Too funny! On Monday at work I was chatting with my co-workers about motorcycles and a guy says something about the fear of hitting birds is too much for him to ever ride. I told a couple stories about guys I knew hitting birds but I'd never hit one. Of course on my way home that day aboard my bike I tagged a red winged blackbird. Yes, for some reason that part of the book stuck with me too, every time I see a red winged I think of that. Not sure how much that ties into your story Docc but thought it was funny. The ghost of Pirsig!