Fly Away

 

It always makes me  happy when I see the geese arrive in early spring. Seeing them fly so freely makes me wish that I had wings! Once they are on the ground they seem more awkward. They walk gingerly on the lake which still has a coating of ice, but their instinct  tells them that spring is on the way.

  One morning, on an early spring walk in April, I noticed a goose sitting right at the edge of the lake, just a few feet from the public sidewalk. Another goose stood guard, chasing away any suspected predators. I soon realized it was a mother goose and her mate, who was protecting her and the future offspring! 

One day I noticed the mother goose was not sitting on the nest and I cautiously went closer and took a look. I saw a lot of feathers covering the eggs. I envied the goose, not for having wings this time, but for being able to just sit on the eggs for one month instead of carrying the fetus inside her body for nine months like I did!

At the end of April my goose watching was interrupted . I was offered a chance to fly for a visit to my children and grandchildren in Ontario. I wish I could have used  wings of my own, but instead I had to rely on the awkward way we humans have learned to fly--sitting in the belly of a huge machine filled with other non winged creatures! 

I was happy to leave this flying experience and greet my four Ontario grandchildren. As always, they made me feel so welcome and so loved. One gave up his room for me, another colored pictures with me in a calendar I once gifted her. The grandson no longer living at home took some time off from his holiday with friends to be with me. I got lots of hugs!

To my regret, I had forgotten to bring a diary, but "not to worry, Oma, we have one for you." They had bought me a present--a diary with my emblem on it--the hedgehog--they knew all about the little stuffed hedgehog I used in my German language classes to make self conscious students feel at ease!

Spring comes earlier in Ontario than in Manitoba and I thoroughly enjoyed all the blossoms and the greenery. 

The time to say farewell came all too soon, and once again we entered the belly of the flying machine! I was travelling with my children from Winnipeg and we each had a suitcase that had to conform to a certain size and weight. The Ontario family had gifted their siblings with a giant Ontario salami. They managed to squash it into their suitcase, only to find out at the airport that this made their suitcase too heavy. They asked if they could try putting it into mine. I agreed, of course, doubting it would fit, but they managed to squash it in! To my surprise, and their relief, it did not make my suitcase too heavy! Then we heard the announcement that the plane which we were boarding was going to Dublin instead, and we would be on another plane. For some reason my selected seat had been changed and I ended up in the very back of the plane! My daughter kindly came and sat with me.

When I returned to Winnipeg spring had arrived here as well. I went to check on mother goose and she was still sitting on her nest. Another goose family nearby proudly displayed its offspring, so I think our brave mama goose will soon be able to leave her nest as well! I will go check on her right now! 

Later: She's still sitting there! I have often heard the expression: "silly as a goose." I will change it to "patient as a goose!"

A happy Mothers' Day to all mothers, the silly ones as well as the patient ones! Enjoy your children, you deserve their love!