[MaiasMom]

Gracie flew away tonight. I have a deck off of my dining room on the back of my row home. It is one story off the ground. I made a terrible mistake and took Gracie outside tonight. I do not know why she flew, if she was scared, startled or what. I watched as my baby just took off. My house has a yard and the yard butts up against the yards of the houses behind me that are one street over. She just soared across my yard and the neighbors yards. I stuffed Maia in Gracie's cage, made sure the dogs couldn't get out of the house and took off out the front door, down the street, around the corner, down that street and around the corner to the street behind my house. I saw two girls and asked them to please go into their yards and see if they could see her. On the end of the row of houses is a duplex apartment, thank god the gate was open, I let myself in and looked for her. The trees in the yards of these houses are taller than the houses (three story houses). All I could think of was she is up in a tree or she flew out of here and is someplace else. I called her name, said, Hello?? Hello?? Nothing, I said Pretty Girl and she squawked. It was coming from where this yard ran along side of houses that are between my street and the street behind me... well the yards are very overgrown and GREEN and Gracie is GREEN. I kept saying Pretty Girl, Pretty Girl and she squawked again. I moved some of the foliage and I saw her on the fence. I got closer and let me tell you it was hard to see her as she blended right in, thank god for the red on her head. I grabbed her and held her close to my chest with both hands and walked home.

I didn't get upset or scared until I got her home. I can't believe I kept my head on straight and found her. Once I got in it all came crashing in as to what could have happened. I haven't moved out of this chair since I got home. Sucked the life out of me. Talk about scary.

She was out in John's yard for three days last weekend and never moved off of her tree. But he lives in rancher so we are ground level on his deck. If she flew she would have headed to the ground. At my house we are one story up so she was able to soar down. She got pretty far. Thank God she didn't take off again. Thank god there were no cats or dogs or hawks, yes we have hawks in Philadelphia. I screwed up bad tonight. And the worst part is I know better. I have never taken her out there before nor Maia.

I am going to try to get her to use a harness, if she won't accept it, she can't go out.

I have been beating myself up over this all night. I KNOW better. I put them in travel cages to take them to the car. Thank God I found her, I would have never forgiven myself.

Beth