Anything that flies.

I haven't always been afraid of birds. I trace it back to my mission, where the families we taught that had birds didn't keep them in cages, and they zoomed around our heads as we attempted to teach with the Spirit. I also remember an Elder on my mission who was afraid of lady bugs and butterflies, and when I asked him if he was serious his companion piped in, naming all the things this Elder feared, laughing to tears, "He's afraid of everything that flies." Well now I am, too.

We went to the Wildlife Zoo with Nate's family (HUGE animal people, and me, NOT an animal person) and I was actually enjoying myself. Shocking, I know. So then they decide to go into the birdcage and feed the birds some apples. I stayed outside, happily watching with a bird-proof cage in between myself and any danger. Then, when they gave the two-minute warning before time was up, I had a strange impulse to go in. Why? No clue. Fear of future regret, perhaps. This was my chance. So I went in, Nate shoved an apple into my hand, and a bird landed on it and started to nibble.






I think I blacked out for a minute, but I'm pretty sure the only reason we have a picture of this is because I kept screaming to my mother-in-law, "I want proof!" And here it is.