The Family Flock

The following journal entries were recovered after a house fire on March 28, 2025. The remains of an unidentified woman were found.

8/25/24

What a day yesterday was! It was my 35th birthday. The kids got me a candle and a card. Hubby took me out to my favorite restaurant last night. Earlier in the day, we went to the pet store, and I got a new parakeet! I put him in the quarantine cage for now. But he seems so much younger than Rosa and Reba. Of course, Rosa and Reba are both nearing ten years old. So he’s just a baby. His name is Renaldo. He is a beautiful blue color with a yellow face. It was a great day. Off to bed now.

8/27/24

Another day, another dollar, journal. It was a rough day at work. Spent the day sweating my butt off in the warehouse, looking for samples. Ugh, it was a day. Renaldo is adapting to the quarantine cage. But he can hear Rosa and Reba in the next room. It seems as if he is going a bit stir-crazy all alone. Jared is having trouble adapting to his new middle school this year. School has only been in session for two weeks, and I already have to meet with the seventh-grade counselor. Gabby seems to do fine. She loves fourth grade so far; I usually have less issues with her.

8/30/24

Oh my god. So I met with the counselor at Jared’s school. Apparently he’s been cussing at the teachers and trying to fight with other students. I do not know what is going on with him. Making a call to his mental health counselor tomorrow morning. He needs more help than just once a month. I have always known we would struggle. He witnessed so much when he was younger. And while I have quit beating myself up about things I can not change….It doesn’t make things any easier. OH MY! I had to go see what the racket was, journal. As I was sitting here writing, the birds made a loud commotion. Renaldo was calling out to Reba and Rosa, and the next thing I knew, they were all calling out in unison. It was so loud everyone had to come see what was going on.

8/31/24

Hubbie caught Renaldo just as he escaped this morning. I was at work and got a call. Renaldo opened the cage door and slipped out. I wished I had a camera to watch hubby chase the bird around. When we were on the phone, Reba and Rosa were so loud they almost drowned out hubby talking. It’s been six days….Maybe it’s time to let Renaldo meet Reba and Rosa?

9/2/24

Well...jeezus. That's all I can say. Jared had a huge meltdown today. Screaming, throwing things. I took his electronics away on the advice of his counselor. Now I’m paying for it. I guess better to deal with it now than at 18 when he is an adult and ends up in prison because he can’t control his emotions. I don’t know. The whole situation makes me tired.

I brought Renaldo’s quarantine cage into the same room as Reba and Rosa yesterday. I swear the three birds never shut up, just chittering away at each other all night, even when their cages were closed. I watched Renaldo hang upside down in the cage and then slither! Under his food and water bowls. I have never seen a bird slither like that before. It was quite funny. I also fed him some millet. Reba and Rosa love it, and so does he.

9/5/24

Gah. Jared. My sweet baby boy. Came to me this morning, crying because he hasn’t seen his bio dad since...well. Since he was three years old. Gabbie was a newborn when we had to leave. Bio dad’s been in and out of prison since then. I tried to explain to Jared all the why’s and everything. But really. How can he understand?

Anyways...I’d rather not talk about all of that tonight. I’ve done enough sitting and thinking on that particular situation. I’ve come so far and started my life over. 

Oh. A few hours ago, I finally let Renaldo into the cage with Reba and Rosa. At first, they all just stood on separate perches, just watching each other. Rosa, who is the oldest did not seem very interested at all. Reba chirped first and the two of them (Reba and Renaldo) are now jumping from perch to perch and are sooo loud. Rosa really wants nothing to do with him so far.

9/7/24

Renaldo seems to have taken up being a bully. I watched him chase Rosa off the perch. And peck at her. She pecks back at him, but she seems to hang back. She’s not even sitting with Reba much anymore. Reba is more interested in Renaldo now.

The kids and I went for a road trip yesterday. Hubbie stayed home. I asked him to; he didn’t mind. The kids needed some mom time. We went for a walk along the river walk and then out to lunch. Overall, it was a pretty good time. Jared seems to be in better spirits.

9/20/24

Yikes, it’s been a while since I updated, journal. Life has been busy with nothing new happening, I guess. But today is weird. I swear there are four birds in the cage now. There’s Renaldo, Reba, and Rosa as usual. But then I swear. There was a beautiful female with patches of blue, green, and white. I asked Hubbie if he saw it too. But he thinks my eyes are messing with me. Yep. Just got up again. There are four birds. This new bird is just chilling on the perch next to Rosa, who seems to tolerate her so far.

9/22/24

There are still four birds. No one else sees four birds. Just me. I have an eye doctor appointment tomorrow. Maybe I’m seeing double. Well...regardless. I’ll name her River.

9/23/24

Journal. I get home from my doctor appointment. The house is empty. The kids at school and Hubbie is at work. I check on the birds. Now there are five. What the hell. The doctor said my eyes were good. I needed a new prescription for my lenses. But other than that, no reason to be seeing double. But now. Five???? And this new one is a bright yellow male bird. He and Renaldo have been squawking at each other off and on for the last few hours. 

9/24/24

Gabbie got the lead role in her play at school. Not surprising. It’s about the pilgrims and it will be the right before the kids are out for Thanksgiving break. She’s so excited, she barely shut up about it at dinner. Jared’s first progress report for school this year came in today as well. The kid got all A’s and B’s. Aside from the earlier issues we were having, looks like something is finally working out. Gabbie got all A’s. Which wasn’t as much of a surprise. She’s always been my high achiever. As for the birds. Yeah. Still five. Hubbie still only sees 3. I don’t know. I asked Jared. He only sees 3 as well. I hand fed Rosa and Reba some millet this afternoon. Renaldo was curious. But I don’t think he’s ready for that yet. River and this new yellow bird squawked the entire time my hand was in the cage. For the most part, it seems as if they are all beginning to adapt to one another. But I don’t understand why I’m the only one who sees five of them?

9/27/24

When I got home from work there were 8 birds in the cage. I wonder if I am beginning to lose my mind, journal. Am scheduling an appointment with mental health in the morning.

9/30/24

Got into an emergency session with a counselor at the mental health clinic today. There really isn't any explanation. I have experienced anxiety and depression since before the kids were born. But honestly journal, I am at the healthiest point ever in my life. My counselor did give me a prescription for anxiety medication. It’s just those damn birds...Oh. There are 10 now. I have to clean their cage at least twice a week. Am eyeing a new larger cage on Amazon right now. Hubbie is beginning to think I’m nuts. I cant say I blame him. There are ten birds in that damn cage. I don’t know where they keep coming from. I’ve named some of them….Of course, there are Reba, Rosa, Renaldo, and River. The first yellow one-his name is Saint. The others are named Jiminy, Frog, Rue, Roger, and Lawrence.

10/3/24

Yesterday was Hubbie’s birthday. We went out to his favorite restaurant, and I got him a whiskey that he really likes. But then today…we fought all morning. I was trying to take care of the birds. He thinks I am overreacting. I really don’t know how he sees only three birds.  They’ve been going through feed like crazy. And their cage gets so dirty. Not to mention, the seed hulls, and feathers on the floor are driving me crazy. My new cage is due to come in on the 7th. I can’t wait. 11 now.

10/9/24

Got the new cage up. Transferred all 13 birds. Hubbie is mad because I spent 500 dollars on this new cage. He says its way too big for the three birds we have. I keep telling him, um actually there are 13. Can’t he see that I am going through feed like crazy. The people at PetSmart know me by name now.

Jared and Gabbie don’t really have anything to do with the birds. But they also have been pretty busy with their after school activities.

10/15/24

Christ. Had to miss work today. I woke up and there were 25 birds in the new cage. It kind of sent me into a panic. I felt it was best to just stay home. I think hubbie is really starting to lose patience with me. Won’t lie haven’t spent much time with him as of late. Not since his birthday. It’s the damn birds. 25 now. I can’t even keep track of who’s who anymore. And then, I notice eggs in one of their nests. Eggs. Baby birds. More birds. Apparently, Hubbie can see those just fine. But not the 25 birds. Maybe he’s the one thats crazy and refuses to see what's really happening.

10/24/24

Forgot to pick up Gabbie’s play costume today for dress rehearsal. The play is on the 21st next month. I’ve become quite absent minded. She had a meltdown and it was all my fault. Halloween is coming soon. Luckily though, those costumes are already secured. I’m still not 100% sure if Jared will be trick or treating this year.  These birds are really driving me crazy. They are so loud. I really don’t get how no one else in the house can see or hear them. Hubbie had to pick up Jared today from school, because apparently the school couldn’t get hold of me. I never heard the phone ring, I swear. Sure enough, though. When they got home, and Hubbie angrily told me what had happened… So I checked. There were four missed calls. Oh yeah. 30 today.

I just don’t know anymore. I used to be so sure of everything. I knew I could trust what I saw with my own two eyes...Now. I don’t really know.

11/15/24

Over 50 birds now in the cage. Contemplating buying another new cage. The cage is filthy. Took a photo and showed my coworker. They didn’t see the extra birds?

11/30/24

75. Plus more eggs in the cage. Oh, Gabby’s play went off without a hitch. Thanksgiving. Spent with the kids and my family. Hubbie went to his parents. We haven't been getting along. He just sees all this money I’ve been spending on these birds. Called me crazy. Still only sees three birds. Everyone else is just blatantly blind. I see these birds. I take care of these birds. How do they not?????

12/21/24

Hubbie is gone……I’m devastated. Barely going through the motions.

12/31/24

Sis came and got the kids today. Maybe it was for the best. Said everyone’s talking about me. How I’m seeing things that aren’t there. Of course, they’re all talking about me. Just like in the past.

Looking at the cage just now. Oh, there are two cages now, by the way. There are a hundred birds between the two of them and so many babies. They have started to smell. I can’t keep up cleaning the cage.

1/2/25

120 birds. I decided to just open the cages and let them fly loose in the house. If some get out...does it even matter at this point? They are everywhere. Lined up on the curtain rods, on chairs, bird poop everywhere. And so many feathers.

Saw the kids earlier today. Everyone seems to be scared to be around me. Acted like they didn’t see the flock of birds flying around the house. I had to fuss at Jared because he almost sat on a few of the birds. Of course, he pretended like he didn’t see them. Hubbie. Well not anymore, ex hubbie I guess. Came by to get some of his things. He walked right through the flock like they weren’t even there. He walked out the door without even speaking to me.

1/28/25

250 birds. This house is disgusting. It smells; there’s bird poop and feathers everywhere. Bird seed is all over the ground.

Haven't seen the kids in two weeks. My sister won’t answer my phone calls anymore.

2/3/25

Other than the sound of the birds, my house is empty. I miss the kids. I miss hubby. I don’t understand where all of these birds came from. There are feathers and bird poop all over the living room. It’s like I live in an aviary now. Instead of a crazy cat lady, I guess I am a crazy bird lady.

2//15/25

They are gone.

Woke up to a quiet house. Which lately has been unheard of. I walk into my living room where the cages are and where they usually roost for the night. Only Reba, Rosa, and Renaldo were in their cage…

What the hell. I cried for an hour. Still crying now. What is happening?

2/16/25

The kids are gone. I’ve left so many messages for my sister. She won’t return my calls. I tried to call ex hubbie. He won’t answer. I’m so alone…You’d think I didn’t even exist to these people anymore. Why are they abandoning me in my time of need? 

Reba, Rosa, and Renaldo are still here and Reba sits on my finger like she always had. You’d never have known that just days ago there were over 200 birds in the house…

2/17/25

I can’t find a single photo of the kids. Even on my phone. Even from before all the birds were here…

No photos of ex Hubbie either. It’s like they never existed...we’re all alone now. Just me, Rosa, Reba, and Renaldo.

3/25/25

I’ve spent the last month trying to track down my sister. I can’t find her anywhere. My parents aren’t answering either. It's just me now...

I gave Rosa, Reba, and Renaldo to a kind stranger I met on Facebook a few days ago. It’s better than them being here with me. No one knows I exist anymore. I lost my job back in January. Now, no one seems to ever return my calls. I even tried to call the person I gave my birds. They won’t answer.

Am I really here? Do I exist outside of this house anymore? Do my kids even remember me? It hasn’t been that long since I saw them last...I can’t seem to do anything anymore without breaking down crying. What has happened to my life?

3/28/25

I can’t take this anymore. I feel so alone.