Every August will be dedicated to a charitable organization in memory of Bobo. In 2006 we raised $1500 for STOP PDD.  The 2007 charitable organization will be the Indonesian Parrot Project (IPP). Not only is IPP a wonderful organization but Dr. Stewart Metz, President of IPP, is doing some wonderful things for Bo.  I hope we can do as well, if not better, for this group that strives to help the wild parrots and cockatoos of Indonesia. Please read on to understand. I apologize in advance for the length of the following letter. 

A Letter Home

August of 2006 was a very hard month for many of us ... it was the month that we lost our precious BoBo. 

  Bo was an inspiration to us … he made us cry, he made us laugh but most of all he made us AWARE or in some cases more aware.  I wish I could say that Bo was the last to suffer the pain and neglect that he endured, but sadly he wasn't the first nor will he be the last.  As you read these words, please make a promise to yourself and to Bo that you will be more vigilant when visiting pet stores, be more vocal for the injustices suffered by those that do not have a voice.

Things had been so touch and go with Bo that I didn't dare make any plans of a life with him. It had been one surgery after another, one bit of bad news after another. Then one day it seemed that suddenly things were improving and with the love and support of people around the world, it had appeared that Bo had finally won the war.  I started to talk about a future, to make plans, for I knew that Bo had a purpose in this world.  Never had I seen people rally and pull for a being in the manner in which they did for Bo.  Bo's personality was so wonderful that I had planned to use him in an educational program.  Surely, teaching and educating was the purpose this majestic and proud creature with the silly clownish name of BoBo was meant to do.  He had a personality that charmed and was patient and calm. He never lost the spark in his eyes though that said, "I am a wild creature and the king of the forests, just look into my eyes for the wisdom of my kind and look at the fire in my crest for that is the fire that burns in our soul." Bo's story had touched so many people, including a man named Stewart Metz, a man that becomes an integral part of this story as you will see. 

Sadly fate would not allow a happy ever after for us, Bo crashed suddenly and unexpectedly.  We lost him on August 12, 2006. He was only a baby … he was only 10 years old. He was with us for a short eight months but his presence had filled me with a lifetime of love.  Never in my life had I loved so deeply; Bo was an old soul and that soul encompassed you.  I could not understand, “WHY? WHY was he taken from us when comfort and love had finally been found? WHY, was he taken from us … I KNEW that Bo was meant to do so much more … so WHY? ”

I tried to comfort myself thinking that maybe Bo was meant to educate those that he had already reached.  I tried to comfort myself by thinking maybe Bo's mission was to help get that store closed down, a store that I had filed many complaints on in the past but to no avail.  This store shut down shortly after I mailed Bo's story and pictures to authorities.  None of that however brought me comfort.  I mourned for him daily and I asked WHY daily. I tried to keep it to myself but I was spiraling down in disparity.

Fate stepped in yet again.  I got an e-mail one day from Tara; Barbara Bailey sent it out.  It was a request for help for The Indonesian Parrot Project (Barbara is also part of IPP).  Funding was low for the first time in eight years of operation and they needed help.  I started communicating again (after many months) with Stewart Metz, (the gentleman mentioned earlier).  I wanted to raise funds for IPP and held a raffle at www.BoBosPlayhouse.com.  Stewart Metz and I exchanged several e-mails, every one of them eventually ended in talk about Bo.  He is a man who sees so much in the country of the Moluccan (Seram) cockatoo … but still Bo had touched him also.  Stewart Metz had been kind to me when Bo was alive; little did I know that he would be the vehicle for a letter home from BoBo.