Old Man River

This afternoon my wife and I spent some quiet time on the banks of the Mississippi River as it slowly wound its way through Minneapolis. There are many parks along the banks on the edge of the city, and this one allowed us to be close to the river. We just sat and listened to the silence. Then my wife turned and said, "Look at the Canadian Geese." I turned to my right, and about twenty yards from us were a number of adult geese and many fuzzy ducklings walking and feeding in the grass. They were headed right toward us. The adults were larger than I would have thought, never having seen one so close to me.

As they got closer, I counted 17 little ones walking with two adults. They continued their path toward us, got on the sidewalk in front of our bench, and walked right in front of us, almost within touching distance. The two adults, as they passed by with their babies, lowered their heads, extended their long necks foward, and gave out a little "honk." We were both just flabbergasted. I had never been so close to untamed animals living their lives as animals do. Wow!

Then two more adults with seven ducklings a bit older and larger did the very same thing. And each lowered its head, stretched its long neck out, and give out a little "honk" as it passed. It was all so beautiful. The third group with two adults and several older ducklings, however, got almost to us, when one adult gave a sharp "honk," and they turned and went behind us. She obviously was not as trusting as the others.

As the ducks moved slowly away, feeding as they walked, my wife and I just looked at each other with smiles of amazement and wonder at the beauty all around us: the ducks and their babies; the river; the lush greenery of a Minnesota Spring. I'm so glad we went out today.