In memory of Hummingbird

YOUR book review [“Chance Sightings, Definitive Guides,” Nov. 23] includes a picture of a hummingbird with the caption “Territorial.” Our daughter Catharine’s moniker was Hummingbird because her breathing and heartbeat rhythm was very rapid. She had a genetic disease called cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs. We stayed many times at the smoke-free White Water Inn [in Cambria], especially every other year at Thanksgiving.

This year our family went there for another reason in October. Our Hummingbird passed away in June and we went to Cambria for a memorial to celebrate her life. In all of the times we have stayed at the inn, we don’t recall hummingbirds there. This time we were met by a multitude of them darting and streaking as if to tell us their friend Catharine -- Hummingbird -- was there in approval of our venture. One bold hummingbird we called Big Al after Catharine’s grandfather protected the territory and stood his ground, allowing us to get very close to his perch -- but beckoning his forces if we stayed too long.

PEGGY AND KEN MARTINET

Glendale