Apr 19, 2002 : 11:37 pm ET

Meet Cynthia Ann Fox, age 50 plus, originally from Lexington, Mass. She and her husband, Richard, have three stepchildren. Together they own and operate The Wild Bird Center in Eastgate Shopping Center. I caught up with Fox while she was sitting beside her favorite frog.

The Herald-Sun: When did you move to this area and why did you come/stay here?

Cynthia Fox: Came to North Carolina in 1986 to work at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science because I worked at NIH [National Institutes of Health] in Bethesda, Md. I transitioned to EPA [Environment Protection Agency] after four years [but] I kept thinking there was something I wanted to do more. I took a weekend class that said "What do you want to do when you get older?" and out of the entire intense weekend the two things that [intrigued] me were working with my hands, crafts and birds. Apparently I lit up like a Christmas tree. We opened the store in 1996.

The Herald-Sun: What is Chapel Hill/Carrboro's best characteristic?

Cynthia Fox: I love the village aspect of it. I love the fact that we have a wonderful clientele. We have educated customers. You just can't beat it.

The Herald-Sun: If you were mayor for the day, what changes would you make?

Cynthia Fox: I'd make sure the cut-through road [in Eastgate] wasn't there. I'm afraid that someday there's going to be a death, with people crossing [the road].

The Herald-Sun: If you weren't in your current job, what would you be doing?

Cynthia Fox: I don't want to do anything else. I really don't.

The Herald-Sun: What is your greatest regret?

Cynthia Fox: I actually wish I had done this sooner and traveled to see my birds more. I didn't do a lot of that till I was older.

The Herald-Sun: Is there something about yourself that people would be surprised to know?

Cynthia Fox: I used to sing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

The Herald-Sun: What is your greatest extravagance?

Cynthia Fox: My binoculars. I've got a real good pair that I love.

The Herald-Sun: Favorite movie and movie food?

Cynthia Fox: I'm not a moviegoer. I did see "Harry Potter." When the owls came on the screen I quickly tried to identify the kinds of owls they used. My favorite food would be popcorn.

The Herald-Sun: How would you like to die?

Cynthia Fox: I couldn't think of anything more sublime than to be outdoors somewhere doing something that I love, but it has to be involved with nature.

The Herald-Sun: If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

Cynthia Fox: A top-of-the-food-chain bird.

....

The Herald-Sun: "Don't forget"

Cynthia Fox: Don't forget the environment. We're all part of the earth.