Rest In Peace Toto

I met Toto when I started working for REM in Minnesota while John finished school.  He lived at the house where I worked, and he loved to scream at us. I talked to him whenever I could, and even brought my Daisy over to visit him sometimes. When his home got too crowded, he moved in with us.

Toto was a fun, quirky little bird with a great sense of humor. He could often be heard "laughing" when we were nearby, particularly after we said or did something funny. He was always good for a head bob and a "Toto" when we needed to hear it, and was quick to tell us that we were looking good, especially if our feet were looking good.

Toto was a wonderful father to two baby birds and countless eggs. I'm unsure when he started getting sick, as he was being the wonderful father he was, and we didn't see him very often, but Sunday,  February 21st, 2010, he came out of the nest box and wanted to be cuddled. He was not as sure-footed as he usually was (which is saying something, because he wasn't known for his grace), and over the next few days, his motor skills deteriorated, and he wanted to cuddle constantly.  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday  we cuddled every minute we could. I began hand feeding him Wednesday morning, but it was too late and he was too weak.

He slept on my chest all afternoon and evening, and at 11:00pm, he let go and moved on. I am glad that I was there to comfort him when he needed me, and I trust he knows he is loved.  He will be missed greatly by his people and his animal family. Rest in peace, Toto.