Something to Make the Heart Swoon

Korrin B.

May 8, 2011 - 7:25 PM

Early May is possibly one of my favorite times in Eugene. No, it is not the weather. Today happens to be pouring rain and I still had a marvelous time. No, it is not the fact that school is almost out for the summer, although that is a nice bonus. It is one of my favorite times in Eugene simply because of one particular event that happens during this time each year. I have been basking in the beauty of this event every Mother's Day since I was a freshman. Today, I went with my fabulous friend, Michelle, to Alton Baker Park to see all of the tiny baby geese and ducks prance about in fields covered in little white daisies.

At first, we thought about postponing our trip to see the baby birds due to the rain. However, we eventually decided to go anyway and the second I saw the first gosling, it was as if it wasn't even raining anymore. I was so excited. I love Alton Baker Park. It is such a beautiful part of Eugene and its paved river trail is wonderful. Anyway, we parked the car and as soon as we got out were greeted by a gathering of happy ducks. I love ducks. I love how they waddle and how they quack and how they sleep. They are so cute. So, it only makes sense that when they are about twenty times as small, they are twenty times as cute!

We began to walk around the park and soon came across a mama duck and her ten tiny ducklings. They were so small they almost looked like mice as they scurried around, pecking all over the ground. Michelle and I watched from a distance as the mama duck got up and with a quack somehow herded all of her ten rambunctious babies into the pond. They may be little, but they sure can swim fast! I can only imagine how rapidly their little webbed feet must have been kicking to keep up with the mama duck. I felt like a complete little kid. I squealed with joy every time the ducks did something cute, which was nearly every five seconds. My feet tapped hurriedly on the ground in a little happy dance.

Michelle and I continued to walk around until we found the geese and their little ones. They were all off grazing in a large expanse of daisies. I felt like I could've stood there all day just watching in wonder and joy. During the time that Michelle and I were in the park, nothing else mattered or existed and I could just relax and be tickled with happiness.

I will certainly miss not being able to make this pilgrimage each year once I graduate and move out of Eugene. It has been one of the many little joys I have found in this community. I will find my grounding in other parts of the world and create my little joys wherever I go, but as I have said before, the Pacific Northwest will always be my center. This region just makes my soul flutter and my heart swoon. Each part of the world is uniquely beautiful, but it is ok to have favorites, right?

Here's to sweet, cute, fluffy little duckies and geese that remind us of just how special life is.