Spreading His Wings

I have been watching the Tour De France bike race for the last 2 weeks. It makes me want to jump on my 1-speed Huffy with the coaster brakes, and go for a ride. But...it's 94 degrees out. (NOT a complaint.) Plus...I don't have any of those fancy little tight bike shorts or singlets. If I can't ride fast...I at least want to look good. (Nothing looks better than a chubby old guy in skin-tight shorts.) The race also makes me want to visit France. The wine country, the old castles, and the Pyrenees and the Alps, look fabulous. Such a pretty country. Not counting Canada, I've never been out of the states.

In between watching the race...I was watching a show called Adventure Sports. They were skiing some place way up in Canada. It made me want to hook up the skis, and try my hand at the half-pipe(a hollowed out "bowl" with high sides.) They were competeing in t-shirts and those baggy shorts. I could handle the shirt...but how do they even keep those shorts on? Plus...I've never tried to ski. Plus...I don't know if I could ever bring myself to say.."I'm really stoked." OR.."Dude...that was an awesome run." The temperature did look good at the ski resort. Did I say it was 94 here? (Not a complaint.)

This little duckling was strutting his stuff. I watched him and his 3 siblings at the base of the waterfall...fighting the current and dipping down for the "good stuff." They did that for about 20 minutes, and then mom led them to the side of the dam. It was time for a good wing stretch, and a small rest. He shimmied up to one of his siblings, and they sat and watched the other ducks in the area. It seemed to me like they were contemplating how and where they were going to fit in. Just before their rest time...one of the older females had made a move on one of the little ones. Mom had deflected the attack.

It seems like it sometimes works that way for humans, too. Mom and dad and the rest of the family can protect us for quite a while. But...as we get older, they are not always there for us. They can't be. The time comes where we have to "flap our wings", and get on with it. We have to find our way, and find where we fit. It sometimes takes years, or even decades.

This little duck is not quite at that stage, but it is not far off. I can't imagine being so young, and having so many dangers around you. No time to laze around and watch the tour on the tube. No time to take a pleasant walk or a bike ride. No time to run to the store to decide on what's for supper.

Always on edge. A quick flap of the wings. A short rest. Maybe a short nap. Then it's back to the falls and back to the eating. A cycle that leads to their growth, and to their "place", their "position", on the pond.

A cute baby. I love the little wings. The picture reminds me of my grandson. "How big is Merrick?" The little man raises his arms. "So big." The duck and the boy are just beginning to spread their wings.