I totally get you! When I was living in Paris, a pigeon used to visit me every day at the same time. I never named her, but I waited for her each day, and she never missed a visit. Honestly, the hardest part about leaving Paris for Barcelona was knowing I was leaving her at the mercy of the new tenant, who probably wouldn’t welcome her the way I did. It’s been a year, and I still think about her.
Such a lovely, poignant post. You evoked such tenderness for Clarissa and also for your relationship with Liza. And of course, I can't help thinking of the line, "If you love something (someone) let her go..." Clarissa helped you do that with so much grace.
“Drafting and leaving behind a white paper on optimal human-pigeon relations was clearly a non-starter.” This is a **hilarious** line in the midst of such a poignant loss. I love it. Beautiful writing. The most vulnerable essays are usually the most impactful. Glad you reposted it.
My partner and I live in Lisbon and share a similar journey to yourself Gregory. Only difference is I prefer the Seagulls and my partner prefers the Pigeons.
I hear you, Brynn. I recently moved from that pigeon-centric apartment to a more seagull-centric one closer to the river, and I can see that both types of birds have their annoying habits and their charms. Luckily, you don't have to choose, do you?
Funny you say that, Gregory. Being close to the river, I’ve also discovered a new avian friend—the Peregrine Falcon. You’ll notice they have leather straps on them, as they’re used to control pigeon and seagull populations, especially in tourist-heavy areas.
Oh! I have a falcon near my house, but I'm pretty sure she is strapless. I think she lives in the local tower, and I'm not sure what she controls. I have to say that, as much as I admire falcons, I'm not keen on the thought of one eating Clarissa!
Maybe if the tourists get out of hand, we will start to see tigers with leather straps running around?
Makes complete sense! I’m sure as summer approaches, we’ll see a few tigers brought in to manage the cruise ship populations docking by the river. I don’t know about you, Gregory, but I do love a good black panther sighting.
As a fellow pigeon-observer and sometime pigeon-landlady, I love this piece. I spent last Spring and Summer watching the travails of a pair of pigeons nest-building and squab-raising in my wisteria tree, and was somewhat bereft when the babies fled the nest and Harold and Maud (pigeon parents) eventually left too. All winter, the leafless wisteria has sat bare, the nest empty, and eventually cannibalised by various sparrows, until now, only a few twigs remain.
I consulted Pigeonpedia a lot (yes, Pigeonpedia is a thing) which told me that pigeons mate for life, that they return to the same nest each year, and that they actually recognise people. I'm hoping Harold and Maud will return this Spring to rebuild Nest BnB and raise another two squabs, and maybe even recognise me.
All this is to say that I hear you completely, and I too stare at random pigeons wondering whether they are 'mine'.
Just as importantly, I wish you and Liza all the best in your loving separation, and your individual futures - wherever you may fly.
Sally, who knew that Pigeonpedia existed! You are opening up whole new worlds for me. I love the thought that pigeons recognize people.
I hope that Harold and Maud (are they the same age or not?) will return and provide you with more edification, and not leave the wisteria too wistful.
And thank you for your kind words to Liza and me. It's difficult, but we are trying to figure it out. Happily, we are both roosting in Lisbon for the foreseeable future.
Hi Renata! If you got an email with this text, you will see there a note explaining that I am republishing my favorite piece from the past six months (this one). So yes, it's an old text, with some new pictures.
And either you have a big family, or there is a connection between me and them—I'm thinking also of your cousin Elizabeth. Please feel free to share whatever you like. (Not your cousin, though—I know she's married. ;) )
oh, sorry, I opened it directly on substack, not via e-mail. and I wasn’t quite sure it was the same text, I only remembered the story.
I do have a big family… lots of names to match yet. :-))))
If you have connections to a Gloria or an Antonio, Gloria was my grandmother + three of my cousins (Glorita, Gloritinha and Gloricita); Antonio comes from my great-grandfather, to my grandfather, my uncle, my cousin and… my nephew.
I totally get you! When I was living in Paris, a pigeon used to visit me every day at the same time. I never named her, but I waited for her each day, and she never missed a visit. Honestly, the hardest part about leaving Paris for Barcelona was knowing I was leaving her at the mercy of the new tenant, who probably wouldn’t welcome her the way I did. It’s been a year, and I still think about her.
Oh, Betina! You really get it. That’s lovely. A fellow pigeon-lover! ❤️🕊️
Yes! We became friends...
I so enjoy your writing, Gregory.
Thank you, Linda! That's wonderful to hear.
Such a lovely, poignant post. You evoked such tenderness for Clarissa and also for your relationship with Liza. And of course, I can't help thinking of the line, "If you love something (someone) let her go..." Clarissa helped you do that with so much grace.
Thank you, Kaarin. I so pleased that the piece resonated with you. 🙏
Beautiful piece. Thank you so much for reposting. 💜
Thank you, Gwendolyn!
Another lovely short-story. Você é um contista e cronista nato, Gregory! Sim, já lhe disse isso em outra oportunidade 😊.
Muito obrigado, querido amigo! Sabe bem poder partilhar os meus textos com outros. Especialmente se eles gostarem!
A kindred soul. Thank you.
Thank you! 🙏
Beautiful 🐦
Thank you. 🐥
I still love this piece.
That's a comfort, since it hasn't changed. ;) But seriously, thank you.
Ever unwavering, me.
This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
You are a special person who can see through beyond the pain to learn something. Maybe someday I will learn the same. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Judith. I also hope that you will.
“Drafting and leaving behind a white paper on optimal human-pigeon relations was clearly a non-starter.” This is a **hilarious** line in the midst of such a poignant loss. I love it. Beautiful writing. The most vulnerable essays are usually the most impactful. Glad you reposted it.
Thank you, Karen. I was hoping that that line would speak to somebody. I'm glad you enjoyed the piece.
humor is the highest form of intelligence!
Pity it didn’t get me into MIT…
Beautiful.
Thank you.
This was a lovely, heartfelt piece, Gregory. Thank you for being willing to share it with us.
Thank you, Clarice!
My partner and I live in Lisbon and share a similar journey to yourself Gregory. Only difference is I prefer the Seagulls and my partner prefers the Pigeons.
I hear you, Brynn. I recently moved from that pigeon-centric apartment to a more seagull-centric one closer to the river, and I can see that both types of birds have their annoying habits and their charms. Luckily, you don't have to choose, do you?
Funny you say that, Gregory. Being close to the river, I’ve also discovered a new avian friend—the Peregrine Falcon. You’ll notice they have leather straps on them, as they’re used to control pigeon and seagull populations, especially in tourist-heavy areas.
Oh! I have a falcon near my house, but I'm pretty sure she is strapless. I think she lives in the local tower, and I'm not sure what she controls. I have to say that, as much as I admire falcons, I'm not keen on the thought of one eating Clarissa!
Maybe if the tourists get out of hand, we will start to see tigers with leather straps running around?
Makes complete sense! I’m sure as summer approaches, we’ll see a few tigers brought in to manage the cruise ship populations docking by the river. I don’t know about you, Gregory, but I do love a good black panther sighting.
If you see any panthers downtown, do let me know!
As a fellow pigeon-observer and sometime pigeon-landlady, I love this piece. I spent last Spring and Summer watching the travails of a pair of pigeons nest-building and squab-raising in my wisteria tree, and was somewhat bereft when the babies fled the nest and Harold and Maud (pigeon parents) eventually left too. All winter, the leafless wisteria has sat bare, the nest empty, and eventually cannibalised by various sparrows, until now, only a few twigs remain.
I consulted Pigeonpedia a lot (yes, Pigeonpedia is a thing) which told me that pigeons mate for life, that they return to the same nest each year, and that they actually recognise people. I'm hoping Harold and Maud will return this Spring to rebuild Nest BnB and raise another two squabs, and maybe even recognise me.
All this is to say that I hear you completely, and I too stare at random pigeons wondering whether they are 'mine'.
Just as importantly, I wish you and Liza all the best in your loving separation, and your individual futures - wherever you may fly.
Sally, who knew that Pigeonpedia existed! You are opening up whole new worlds for me. I love the thought that pigeons recognize people.
I hope that Harold and Maud (are they the same age or not?) will return and provide you with more edification, and not leave the wisteria too wistful.
And thank you for your kind words to Liza and me. It's difficult, but we are trying to figure it out. Happily, we are both roosting in Lisbon for the foreseeable future.
Hey, Gregory, I didn't dream, you wrote about Clarissa before, didn't you?
This is such a lovely story, thanks for sharing. Really sweet of Liza to text you to ask about her. Little things.
(Clarissa is my sister-in-law's name, as well as one of my cousins. Thinking of sharing your text with them :-) ).
Hi Renata! If you got an email with this text, you will see there a note explaining that I am republishing my favorite piece from the past six months (this one). So yes, it's an old text, with some new pictures.
And either you have a big family, or there is a connection between me and them—I'm thinking also of your cousin Elizabeth. Please feel free to share whatever you like. (Not your cousin, though—I know she's married. ;) )
oh, sorry, I opened it directly on substack, not via e-mail. and I wasn’t quite sure it was the same text, I only remembered the story.
I do have a big family… lots of names to match yet. :-))))
If you have connections to a Gloria or an Antonio, Gloria was my grandmother + three of my cousins (Glorita, Gloritinha and Gloricita); Antonio comes from my great-grandfather, to my grandfather, my uncle, my cousin and… my nephew.
“Clarissa” is a great piece indeed.
Thanks, Renata! I will hang on to Goritinha and Antonio as possible names for my next avian friends.