Yesterday I pretty much lost it at the intersection of 47th and Main Street. A gaggle of geese decided to cross the busy intersection. And they were doing a darned fine job of staying within the cross walk, if the painter of said lines had been into jaywalking. They were lovely and in lockstep with their mission.
Some jerk – several, in fact – decided they didn’t have time to wait for them to finish crossing and proceeded with the lights to curve tightly around the birds. The birds just stood still until they had passed and started walking again. No squawking. No flight. No bird hurt.
Just me in my car fighting back tears that could not be contained. Yes, it was rush hour. Yes, it’s a busy intersection. Yes. Yes. Yes. Whatever. This was a chance for everyone within eyesight to take a moment, watch nature overcoming engineering, and wait for the magic to end.
I have stated before, in older blogs, that I do not condone driving and crying. It’s dangerous. So I kind of stopped crying when it was time to press on the pedal, but several tears wouldn’t stay lidded up. They needed to finish, and it gave me time to process where these emotions in me were coursing from.
I work hard. Most people do. I work – and play – at a speed that thrills me. Most people do. However, I am embracing more and more the peace that can be found in the noise. When a funeral procession is moving toward me, I pull over and live in the peace of a few minutes remembering those in my life who have been escorted in darkened and cooled hearses. When an ambulance is roaring behind me, I pull over and remember a sister whose last ride was in a brightly lit boxy vehicle manned by professionals.
And when geese cross the road – the road that is leading me to my work and all that my life has in store for me – I stop and wonder at the beauty and power of slow, precise footfalls.
I am beginning to find more peace in the noise and live in it. Yesterday I did so for as long as it took for my feathered friends to get to greener grass. Funny, we were headed for the same thing.
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How I love this story! It is beautifully told, with emotion and truth.
Thank you for sharing this touching account of life. 🙂
Paul & John, along with Bixby, Budley, and Sylvie
Paul:
Thank you for your nice note and for reading our blog. I hope your weekend is divine.
– sloane
Very beautiful and touching story, as much as the author herself.
Kevin: Thank you for reading our blog and for your very nice comment. – sloane
oink, the pig that lives around the corner from me, was headed down the road this morning…she likes to go get apples from the health food store. she was in the middle of the road when i popped over the hill….which forced me to slow down….which is a good thing.
i like your goose story.
P. Claire: I like your pig story … and you, too! – sloane
Lovely post, Sloane! Thank you.
You are a lovely writer. This is a beautiful little moment and I appreciate you sharing it with us!
Lina: What a nice note to receive. Thank you for reading our blog. I hope you are out and about today soaking up all of this loveliness. – sloane
How beautifully you conveyed this experience. Thank you for sharing and reminding us to take/make time to appreciate.
Susie: Thank you! I just told my son – a 16 year old! – this week that you don’t not have time, you make time. I am just really trying to live by my own admonitions! – sloane
I’m worried about the owl. Was it okay? Owls should not be sitting on the ground, let alone in a gutter. With its eyes closed.
Susan…
I just saw your post. Yes, I believe he was fine. We drove back around and he was gone. It was during the dry spell and I think he came to ground to enjoy a puddle from sprinklers.
:Casey
I had the misfortune of this experience with a less caring driver in front of me! He simply ran into the beautiful, methodical line of the crossing gaggle just west of the Plaza on Ward Parkway. My family sat in awe and disgust as this heartless driver left behind at least a dozen confused geese, looking at their injured compadre! Some good Samaritans passing by on foot ran to the goose’s aid, but it was too late. They moved the dying goose to the side of the road and the rest of the gaggle, curiosity quenched, moved on leaving the dead goose behind, in a renewed, nonplussed fashion. What a sight and gamut of emotions!
Every time I pass that area I see the explosion of feathers in my mind! What a different experience for you, and how nice that you were able to stop and watch their stately promenade. I don’t understand some people, but I’m glad they are in the minority.
Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth: I must say, this was my fear that morning. I am so sorry you had to live through the experience of watching a hit and run. It must jade you from taking that route! I knew that if someone hit the gaggle I had the blessing of watching I would “lose” it even more. That emotion was probably the one that was scaring me the most.
Thanks for reading our blog. – sloane
Great reminder that it’s not necessary to be in such a hurry all the time.
Jane: It’s true! Slowing down is key …. thanks for reading our blog. – sloane
Beautifully told Sloane, thank you for sharing. I too was worried about that owl on the ground. He is beautiful though.