Facing my Fears

I just do not like birds.  This began when I was expecting my daughter Connie.  My mother-in-law, Margaret, had bought a parrot for her children and named him Big Bird.  This bird hated me and proved it by latching on my arm while I was visiting.  I mean really latched on, Scottie my brother-in-law had to thump him on his beak to get him to release.  He was just hanging by his beak on my arm and it hurt.
I know everyone laughed but me, I was afraid Connie would be scared but she wasn't; me on the other hand has never forgot or come to grips with the attack. I think I have a good reason to fear and not like birds.  Any way, today at the farmer's market one of the vendors had her bird with her and I decided to take a few pictures of him.  He is a beautiful bird and very well behaved.  To make a long story short, she and her husband insisted that I hold him.  I did and below is the proof.

When he nibbed on my shirt I thought I have a heart attack but I survived.  Believe me the bird looks a lot better than I did.  When I look at this I still can't believe I held him.

The lady recycles the feathers he sheds into jewelry, which I think is pretty cool.