Between youth and old age stretch the "Soaring Years." For Burdha those were the years of increasing wisdom and strength. He travels around the North American continent. He gains perspective on life from his journeys to California, Mexico, Texas, New Orleans, Florida, the White House, New York City, and on to Canada and Alaska. And then back to his aerie on the West Coast. There, a female eagle joins him. This is his "Lady." Together Burdha and Lady raise a family-and suffer heartaches in the face of forest fires and starvation. "Big birds don't cry " quotes Burdha. But even eagles can scream to the edges of sky and heaven, asking the Father of us all to share in their sorrows. Through times of heart-warming happiness and heart-wrenching sadness, Burdha deepens his store of wisdom. In his farewell "Sermon on the Aerie," Burdha shares his lifetime of personal wisdom with the Bird World, and we of the Human World have the honored privilege of listening-in. The first part of his sermon is "The Three Joys" that Burdha gleaned from his journeys and conversations with other birds. The second part is "The Three Truths" that come from discovering your purpose in life, from times of solitude, and from being a blessing to others. The third part is "The Three Songs" that come from persistent hope, the symphony of work and play, and the jig of magic and nonsense. Then there is Burdha's eternal blessing for all birds and his closing song, "Oh When the Birds Go Flying High " You'll likely be singing with this Bard and his "congregation." Here are a few smidgens of Burdha's wisdom: "So it is, no song or cry from the heart goes unanswered." "To sing for no reason is to exalt our Master's will for us to live and fly." "The only road map to the sky is not in front of your eyes but behind them." The life and times of Burdha the Bard are sure to uplift your spirit of joy and wonder. You can travel to the grand destination meant for your life. As Burdha so aptly put it: "The joyous bird always flies toward his soul."