I think I bent reality...

[Brian - Metro]

Last night, while Judy and I were cooking dinner, Spartan (our African grey parrot) got his neck caught around a chain that holds up a ball that he plays on. He started making his desperate call for help. (which is very different than any other noise he makes.) Immediately we knew his life was in danger.

At first, I ran to the cage and could not see the problem, because of his neck feathers, we could not see how or where he was tangled up. His vocalization became more frantic as he was clearly in big trouble.

Within seconds, I had the leather gloves on, I placed my hands under Spartan to create some slack on the chain. This did not work and only made the issue worse. I panicked and stepped away from the cage.

Judy stepped in, she also tried to hold up the bird while he tried to get his neck free. His vocalizations were now to the point of sheer terror. And they were becoming strained and quieter. I swear he was passing on.

I said to Judy "please get out of the way, if he's going to die, let it be in my hands." I tore off the gloves, placed my hands right at the toys clamps and started to twist the rivet to release the toy. Nothing happened. It was stuck. And Spartan was making a meal of my hand. Biting and biting and biting my hand as I tried desperately to undo the clasp.

It was then I started chanting. "I will do this right now! I will do this right now!" After a few seconds which seemed like an eternity, the clasp released.

But no... the universe would not relent. I could not get the clasp over the top of the bar that it was attached too. Finally after a few more seconds, Judy got the clamp off the bar and I pulled Spartan out. I handed him off to Judy and collapsed to the ground. He was saved at the absolute last second.

The reason I want to share this is because I feel like I "bent" reality to my will. For some reason I think Spartan was supposed to say goodbye last night, and I REFUSED to allow it to happen. (By any means necessary that outcome was going to change.)

A similar event happened to Judy years ago on the FDR in NYC. After stopping in traffic, Judy saw a cab that did not see the traffic ahead and was speeding right for her. While she watched the cab coming in slow mo, she denied its power. She said something like. "I will not die like this today. There is no way!"

Of course the cab stopped within inches of hitting Judy but, the point is still there. Did we deny the outcome of reality. Did we reprogram the moment in real time as it was happening. I don't know. But I feel that something happened. Perhaps a test? Not sure.

Anyway, has this happened to anyone else. Have you ever felt like you just "bent reality." (Usually in cases of emergency)

[Anton177]

It's a very common philosophical theory called: Fate vs. Free Will. Sometimes you can change things, and sometimes you can't. You shouldn't worry about what happens but more about what you do to stop or ensure that something does happen.

How is Spartan?

[PatInTheHat]

Nope, but reality sure has bent me a time or three!

As a Robin Willliams once said (first album...hmm, did he have a second?): "Reality, what a concept".

[Charms7]

Thank you for sharing those events with us, Brian. I feel as though reality has been bent many times during my life and the lives of my loved ones. So many times we took chances and might not have survived if not for that tremendous force that keeps us here, whether it is our guardian angels or our own sheer willpower. It isn't for me to say. I'm glad Spartan and Judy are still here after those harrowing experiences.

[Becks19]

Brian, Yes it has happened to me many times, especially with my children. It comes down to sheer determination that whatever it is [I]is not going to happen..not right now[I].Sometimes, our will can be stronger than fate. I am glad that Spartan was saved.

[Brian - Metro]

He seems pretty good. My hand is worse than his neck.

If you care to see it, we log all of Spartans phrases on twitter. He really is amazing.

http://twitter.com/spartanbird09

[Spideyman]

Thank you for sharing. May both you and Spartan heal well.
Living in Florida during hurricane season is interesting- a few years back, a massive one was due to make landfall directly over my area. Having many critters in my care, no shelter to accept them, no means to evacuate them ( I do now), it came down to will against nature. Bending reality as you put it. It was not going to be their time to leave my care. The hurricane took a sharp turn just hours before landfall, thus missing the full force in my area.

[Doc Wilson]

Wow, glad you are both okay. What a fantastic tale it made.

[Srbo]

Thanks for sharing, Brian, I wish you guys a speedy recovery ...



Pat, the actor has an album oout ?

You were thinking Robbie Williams, eh ?

Nope, but reality sure has bent me a time or three!

As a Robin Willliams once said (first album...hmm, did he have a second?): "Reality, what a concept".

[AngelZ]

Brian, Incredible story. For the most part I believe in the the poem "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley:

OUT of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

But, I also believe in fate that certain things are meant to happen. The other day a good friend offered to lend me her Sally (Nightmare Before Christmas) costume for Halloween. It turned out, I didn't end up wearing the costume, but the very next day, I read in a NYC magazine that they are having a Tim Burton retrospective at the MoMA. That's not just a coincidence in my book. Some things are meant to be... I have started a "Coincidence File" not too long ago and the Sally / Tim Burton story will go in there as well.

You are very lucky to have saved Spartan's life. It was not his time to go, IMO.