I had an opportunity this week to spend some time with a good friend at a rustic little spot beside the Saint John River. It was an opportunity to mix business and pleasure. I always thought that the ideal job is one where you could spend a few hours working and then spend some time in the sun talking and laughing. This was a really good example of that.
It just so happened that this place where we were was also the home to some very friendly ducks. We think they were either Wood Ducks or Grey ducks since they have a very distinctive blue edge on their wings. These ducks were obviously very used to people. As we sat on a big junk of concrete dabbling our feet in the water, these three ducks, Larry, Moe and Curly, would swim right up to us, behind us and beside us obviously checking us out. Sometimes they would stop and look, other times just swim on by casting a wary eye in our direction.
It was really obvious how tame they really were until the "visit". We were sitting outside on our cabin steps looking down toward the river when suddenly we saw three heads appear under the grassy bank that sloped down to the road that was beside the river. Up they came, climbing the hill like little soldiers. They wandered over to us and started pecking around the grass obviously looking for some good eating. My friend, unable to resist it any longer, ran to get a bagle and begin doling it out to the starving birds.
Needless to say it was a big hit. Now feeding bread to birds is not really recommended but who could resist these little beggars. Once we had given out all the bread, the ducks turned their backs, headed back down over the hill, across the road and back to the water. It's too bad that in about 2 months time, duck season will be open and the hunters in their camouflaged boats and clothing will be gunning for these little girls. By that time however, they will have woken up to the fact that there's no free lunch in this world. There always seems to be a price to pay.
This reminds me of how some people are. They seem willing to provide help and a handout at times but without warning can bring out their guns and shoot you down. Consistency in treating our fellow human beings leads to trust and allows them to pass it along. It's hard to do it always but something I'm trying to shoot for!! Have a good one.
Have you ever gone to an art gallery in the nude? I was just reading about a new exhibit at Leopold Museum in Vienna called the "Naked Truth", an exhibit of early 1900s erotic art. So they've encouraged art-lovers to strip off, letting naked or scantily-clad visitors in for free. Interesting idea, dress according to the exhibit. This should give the usual museum crowd lots to talk about over the next few weeks.
