Birdie - A Songbird’s Wings are Open Birdie’s parents came to this country from Laos while her mother was still pregnant with her. Fleeing the remnants of a war torn society, the Xaphakdy family came to America seeking a better life for themselves and their soon to be born child. Birdies young life consisted of her parents moving around the country with her father taking odd jobs to make ends meet. It was a very meager life, but always full of hope and music. Birdie’s passion for music came directly from her father who, no matter how hard things were financially for the family, kept a song in his heart. When Birdie was as young as 6 years old she began her love affair with sound and performing. Whether she was being lulled to sleep by her mother or brought on stage by her father to sing, Birdie knew at a very young age what she wanted to do. SING! When her family settled in the small southern Minnesota town of Luverne, Birdie eased into...