I just got back from a memorial service for a wonderful woman, Ann Young. I first heard about Ann when I moved to Orlando back in the 70's. Ann was known as the 'bird lady'. What started out as a cry for help from her children who had found an injured bird in the backyard, slowly developed into a full time job caring for and releasing back into the wild, injured birds of all kinds. Her reputation for helping birds was carried on local news stations regularly. Although the news stories always liked featuring the stories of her rescue of the large birds of prey, Ann cared for all birds, like the story one of her volunteers shared with us tonight, a crow who had gotten tangled in the string of a kite and was now dangling from atop a tall pine, Ann was always ready and willing to help.
There is no replacing the spirit that Ann had for her love of birds, but as several of the people who spoke honoring her expressed to us tonight, you can honor the spirit of Ann in your own way. It doesn't have to be birds, its whatever you hold close to your heart. Follow your passion and take action to help the world in your way, be of service.
We'll miss you Ann.
"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." William Blake
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