I read 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings' when I was thirteen and a world opened up for me one summer on a hot porch in New Orleans, LA. I was in that book journeying through Dr. Maya's life with her, taking and holding every breath and laughing and crying right along with her. Maya made me dream, as I saw what the human spirit could do and become and that obstacles were no match for determination and will. I was just talking to a friend last night and they were excusing away someone's behavior and I rebutted " Maya Angelou never used the circumstances of her life as an excuse." Maya was a powerful force. And yes, a phenomenal woman that reinvented herself so many times showing that we can not only have one life, but live many lives, have many loves, adventures, professions, in redefining and reinventing oneself. I fell in love with reading at a young age, because of the way her words danced and I walked through every experience with her page for page, word for word, breath for breath. Dr. Maya Angelou may you rest in peace eternally. Thank you for the wisdom and the laughter and the power of your spoken and written words. I wish I could have met you but because of you, I know why the caged birds sings. -Freedove 5/28/14