May 2022 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 5
‘Nonnie’ takes over care of parakeets while daughter away By ROBIN CZARNEK Vice President of Sales Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the home of a Hermann Sons Life member, Ollie Gean Whatley and her “boys,” parakeets Collin and Justin to whom Ollie Gean is Nonnie. I wanted to share a bit of their story with you. In June 2021, Ollie Gean’s daughter, Mary, a ship steward for the last 20 years, was called to work, which meant having to ask her mom to care for Collin and Justin. At the onset of Nonnie duty, Ollie Gean was charged with weaning Collin and Justin and getting them used to baby food. While getting in a feeding routine with Justin and Collin, she learned they have very different personalities with Collin being very impatient and a messy eater often throwing food, while Justin is neat, calm and the patient one of the two. Collin and Justin are Mary’s beloved parakeets. Mary discovered her love for birds when her captain in Louisiana needed help caring for his birds and Mary was hooked. Since then, Mary has enjoyed being a parent to her feathered babies. While Mary was able to take them on previous trips, she was unable to do so on this latest one. Once the unlikely trio settled into a routine, Collin and Justin adjusted quite well to life at their Nonnie’s house. They live a lifestyle most birds can only dream of. They are fed what could only be considered culinary delicacies for most birds. Their Nonnie cooks for them daily with meals ranging from seasonal fruits, vegetables, egg whites, Malt-o-Meal, oatmeal and even macaroni and cheese and Chicken A La King. While what’s on the menu varies daily, some of their favorite items are potatoes of all kinds, sweet bell peppers, watermelon and
cantaloupe. When Ollie Gean eats at one of her favorite local restaurants, the Wimberley Café, she brings home a doggy bag (or perhaps I should say birdy bag) for the boys, which recently consisted of baked chicken, potatoes and green beans. The boys have become adept travelers and enjoy going to visit Mrs. Whatley’s other daughter, Jean. While the boys have become used to travelling, they still favor a consistent routine. They wake up singing songs to their Nonnie, ready for breakfast. They enjoy their afternoon nap in Nonnie’s room and then wake up chattering, ready for their dinner. The boys are ready for bedtime right at 7:30 and prefer a quiet, dark room, which means Nonnie does more
by a wagon. Ollie Gean does her best to recycle, even using her Hermann Sons Life newspapers to line the mobile home of Collin and Justin, but only after reading it cover-to-cover, of course! While some may say the boys are spoiled, Mary will tell you it is merely more proof of the extraordinary woman Ollie Gean Whatley is. Mary is reminded what an amazing mother her mom is when she sees how lovingly she cares for Collin and Justin. We are proud to have the Whatley family as members of Hermann Sons Life!
Ollie Gean Whatley takes special care of parakeets Collin and Justin while daughter Mary, a ship steward, is away.
Dance Recitals New Braunfels May 1 - 2 p.m. & 6 p.m. The Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre 290 W. San Antonio St., New Braunfels
Answers to puzzles on Pg. 20 Crossword puzzle answers: Across 2. Mom 5. Gift 7. Hugs 8. Spring 9. Flowers Down 1. Visit 2. Mother’s 3. Kisses 4. Thank 6. Card
Crossword Puzzle
reading these days rather than watching TV as the boys don’t care for it. Ollie Gean will tell you that one of the best things about being Nonnie to Collin and Justin is watching them flitter about, especially when they are free to roam around the screened-in back porch on warmer days, singing and talking to other birds, happy and content…living their best life. When they are tuckered out from their romps on the back porch, they will often retreat to their mobile home, which is their well-appointed cage made mobile
Seguin May 1 - 2:30 p.m. TLU - Jackson Auditorium 1000 W. Court St., Seguin Hill Country May 2-3 - 5-7 p.m. Smithson Valley High School 14001 Hwy 46, Spring Branch Poth May 7 - 1 p.m. La Vernia Independent School District 225 Bluebonnet Rd., La Vernia Devine May 21 - 1-3 p.m. Devine Student Activity Center 605 W. Hondo Ave., Devine
San Antonio/La Vernia May 21 - 2 p.m. Northeast Lakeview College 1201 Kitty Hawk Rd., Universal City Lone Oak May 21 - 5 p.m. TLU - Jackson Auditorium 1000 W. Court St., Seguin Comfort May 22 - 1 p.m. Comfort High School 143 Hwy 87N, Comfort NW Bexar June 4 - 6 p.m. Marion Sweat Auditorium 8000 Lobo Lane, San Antonio
These are the dance recitals that we had been notified of as of press time.
