A friend wanted to drive down to Springfield yesterday for the annual fall Exotic bird show. She LLLOOOVVVEEESSS birds. She used to have an African Grey which had quite the vocabulary and she has been wanting another bigger, intelligent bird for years. As we pulled out of Peoria I KNEW we were coming back with a passenger. It took her about a minute before she spotted Angel, a cockatoo. I have always been amazed by birds. They are fun, pretty, and magnificant. However, I have never experienced bird love until yesterday. My friend walked right up to Angel and said 'step up' and put her hand out to the bird. Angel immediately stepped up on her finger, walked up her arm and nestled into her neck. He laid there for probably a half an hour in total contentment. Another 15 minutes later he was giving her kisses. I have never seen anything like it. Needless to say Angel came back with us and my friend spent the evening talking and cooing with the new baby. She texted last night that Angel said, 'love you' twice. Amazing. 

I went home and cleaned up the wet spot my dog made in protest to my being at a bird show all day. Maybe I want a bird now.

-Shelly Knight