… because sometimes, the best life advice comes from a gosling with no sense of urgency.
Minute by minute, the Earth is changing. Somewhere, floods are rearranging real estate, wildfires are rewriting hiking trails, and earthquakes are giving the ground a dramatic makeover. And while most of us aren’t around to witness these headline-grabbing events in person, that doesn’t mean they didn’t happen. Nature doesn’t wait for an audience.
Still, it’s not always about epic destruction. Sometimes, nature winks at us – offering tiny, heartwarming moments that say, “Hey, I’m still holding it together.” A hummingbird taking five on a feeder. A fawn taste-testing spring’s latest salad bar. Or a Blue Heron, parenting like a pro, dangling dinner into open beaks high above the nest. If you’re paying attention, the world offers some impressive encore acts.
Speaking of encore acts, allow me to introduce the local goose squad.
One evening, while on my usual walk through the park, I spotted what can only be described as a full-blown family outing. Four adult geese, proud and feathered, were escorting a parade of goslings across the park pedestrian paths. The two in the front were clearly on security detail – heads swivelling like feathered bouncers, scanning for dogs, drones, or toddlers with too much energy.
Then there were the back two. And let’s just say… they weren’t exactly pulling their weight.
In fact, they looked suspiciously like they were deep in some juicy goose gossip. Head tilts. Side-eyes. The occasional honk of disbelief. Meanwhile, the goslings behind them were left to wander – snacking on grass, stepping on one another, generally doing what kids do when the chaperones check out.
It reminded me of a scene all too familiar: a parent and child crossing the street, the parent laser-focused on traffic, the kid glued to their phone. Maybe that’s why parents have evolved that iconic line: “Watch it – I’ve got eyes in the back of my head.” Turns out, geese… not so much.
Of course, every good parade has its straggler. One little guy lagged behind, fluff puffed up, tiny feet working overtime. Clearly not cut out for the goose Olympics. He looked like he was in his own world – possibly questioning why soccer balls are allowed in a park, or what bread crusts taste like. Whatever his thoughts, he stole the show.
Fast-forward a few weeks. Same park, same time of day. The goose gang was back – and this time, they were facing their Everest: the long staircase down to the bay. It’s not Mount Kilimanjaro, but for young geese with questionable coordination, it might as well be.
I watched as they navigated the descent, one waddling wobble at a time. And guess what? Every single one made it – yes, even the daydreaming underdog who nearly missed the earlier march.
Turns out, maybe that original scene wasn’t a case of goosey negligence after all. Maybe it was a life lesson in the making: keep up, or you’ll get left behind. Or perhaps the better takeaway is this: you’ll get there eventually… even if you stop for a little gossip along the way.
Because in nature, as in life, not every path is smooth. But every step – wobbly, honking, snack-break-included counts. Now, if only they could just clean up after themselves!
