ah fuck…to be a duck.
September 3, 2011 at 11:04 pm 21 comments
today i took Moonlight and Shadow to the park, because if i didnt leave my apartment, i would have killed myself. we went down by the lake. normally i do not go near the lake, because it is usually packed with people and i like to be
alone, but today there were not too many people in the park. both Moonlight and Shadow were thrilled because they could run in and out of the lake as needed while i sat on my ass in the grass.
there were TONS of ducks hanging out. white ones, grey ones, big ones, little ones, ones that had beautiful blue-tipped feathers… and some geese i think cause they were loud. at first Shadow chased them, but eventually s
he got bored; plus some of those big honking geese are mean as shit. In general, Moonlight could care less about the ducks, except for possibly considering eating one. i decided as i sat in the grass watching these ducks, that ducks have a kick-ass life.
have you ever watched alot of ducks together? really watched, for hours. it is really quite beautiful the way they live, interact, and “be.” it was very clear that there is a society of ducks, just like a society of people. there were ducks chasing each other in friendly ways, ducks chasing each other in pissed off ways, ducks walking together, ducks talking, ducks going into the lake together, ducks sleeping together, ducks eating together… you get the picture.
how do i know that there is some type of society, you ask? at one point, Shadow came running out of the lake and one of the white ducks let out a loud “HONK.” at that point, all the sleeping white ducks woke up at once. it was fucking amazing. the duck safety officer alerted the others of impending danger. Shadow at that point was more interested in coming over to “shake” stinky lake water on me, but the ducks were still on alert because she had been chasing them earlier.
so, as i sat in the park for hours sleeping and watching ducks, i became fascinated watching two particular ducks; one large white duck and a little duck with blue-tipped feathers. let me tell you why…
Little duck with blue-tipped feathers
this little duck was a duck i had never seen before. it was beautiful and there was a group of them in the park.
but the one i was watching was all alone. the little duck was running in and out of the water, eating, sitting, and walking around alone. the rest of the ducks that had blue-tipped feathers were under the trees further from the lake. but the duck i was watching had no-one. i wondered why he/she was alone. i felt alot like this little duck and could feel my heart strings tug as i watched the lone duck living outcasted amongst the society of ducks…
White large duck
the entire tim
e i sat in the park and my dogs ran around, there was one large white duck who sat in the grass, beak straight ahead, eyes closed… looking in complete peace. this duck looked like it had reached enlightment… a buddha duck. every once and a while, this duck would gently open its eyes, blink a few times, and close them again. it was mesmorizing. i could feel calmness radiate from this duck. other ducks walked by, ran by, brushed the buddha duck, but the duck just sat. the duck didnt jump out of fear, fly away, be afraid…just calmness. i want to be like this duck. My life is completely opposite of the calmness of the buddha duck.
i laid in the park for along time watching ducks and hanging with my dogs. for as long as i can remember, i have felt like the little duck with blue-tipped feathers; alone, confused, an outcast, surviving, and sad. i have never felt like the white duck. as i was getting ready to leave, the little duck with the blue-tipped feather flew away… alone. the white duck opened his eyes, blinked, and went back to being at peace…
i’m tired of flying away too…
.
Entry filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: aged-out foster kids, alone, depression, dog, Foster Care, foster child, foster homes, foster kid, foster parents, outcast.



1.
KimB | September 3, 2011 at 11:18 pm
I hope some day you become like the white duck and can feel internal peace.
2.
Splintered | September 4, 2011 at 12:03 am
Quack, Honk, Peace.
3.
Cesarea | September 4, 2011 at 12:11 am
Love these observations, LT. In reality, though, there are so many blue-tipped-winged ducks
In our ridiculous society that there is no way you will always fly off alone. It will be better someday; stick around and be surprised at what your future has to offer.
4.
Krista | September 4, 2011 at 12:13 am
Ducks really are amazing…just like you, LT.
5.
MamatoMany | September 4, 2011 at 12:14 am
Thinking of you.
6.
Crumble | September 4, 2011 at 12:16 am
Buddha duck – you are brilliant to come up with these things!
I wish I could be like the Buddha duck too.
You will get there. I believe you will.
7.
James | September 4, 2011 at 12:23 am
Beautiful, LT. May I say during your stay in the park you were very much like the white duck. Like the white duck you sat there, quietly observing and reflecting, while Moonlight and Shadow were busily frolicking about, you were at peace taking it all in…….no fear, no anxiety, just living in the moment……..Beautiful.
8.
Alice | September 4, 2011 at 1:06 am
LT, you are a truly beautiful writer. My life is made richer by your writing.
9.
Lynn | September 4, 2011 at 3:55 am
I’m glad you chose to live, LT. I hope it gets easier soon and I hope one day you can feel like that white duck. You deserve to live in peace. Please keep hanging on. And keep writing and doing anything else that makes you feel a little better (choosing to get out of the house was a great idea!) It sounds like your dogs had a good time today. They’re lucky to have you.
10.
Fi | September 4, 2011 at 7:30 am
the Buddah duck was once like the blue tipped winged duck. he learnt how to be calm…. as we all can. just takes practice, like any skill.
i hope you learn calm too. it’s indeed a beautiful space.
namaste
11.
The Sleeper | September 4, 2011 at 9:25 am
Your ability to take activities of your life and reflect is more than most people can do. In some ways you are like the Buddha duck. I hope you find peace someday. *hugs*
12.
Jules | September 4, 2011 at 9:35 am
I hope someday you can be like the white duck and be happy and peace LT. why don’t you bring some bread with you next time and feed them? I like doing that, take care
13.
Jackie | September 4, 2011 at 11:19 am
Dear LT,
Thank you for such a beautiful reflection. You are wise and insightful beyond your years! (When I watched my cats, all I could think of was how awesome it would be to be a cat so I could sleep all day.
)
I, too, hope you can be like the Buddha duck someday. I believe you will. Much peace to you, sweet LT.
14.
Shae | September 4, 2011 at 11:49 am
you don’t have to fly away anymore, LT. You’ve settled into your new home, have people who care about you, and now you get to take the time to heal.
The little duck could have been just too full of energy to sit still, and he needed to use it all up before he to sat down like the white duck. You also have some stuff to continue taking care of before you can completely sit in peace like the white duck. Keep taking care of yourself LT, in the best way that you can. You said dr.Val mentioned that you take better care of Moonlight, than anyone took care of you. and you also seem to take better care of Moonlight than you do yourself, but Moonlight needs you to keep taking care of yourself, so you can be at the top of your game to take care of her.
maybe the next time you go out, you could also try to compare the things you see to something positive, to show a way in which you have grown, like making a friend,standing up for yourself, or something like that. I don’t know exactly, but anyways, I hope you’re doing well and that your PT has helped with your wrist.
Have a good day!
15.
RW | September 4, 2011 at 1:12 pm
I think the duck with the blue-barred wings (if the wings open, you will see that it’s more like a stripe near the edge of the wings than a spot at the tip) is a young male mallard duck b/c it basically looks like a female mallard, but it has a yellow beak like a male. When the mallard ducklings start getting their grown-up feathers instead of fuzz, they all have the camoflaging coloring of the females, but as the males get older, they start to change coloring, so their beaks get yellow and their feathers get more gray with black and white bits and beautiful green head and neck feathers.
So quite likely the duck you thought looks like you, is like you in that he is just figuring out how to be a grown-up. Unlike you, he probably had a good mom who fed him and kept him safe until he was ready to go off by himself and explore independently. Also unlike you, he hasn’t yet taken on the responsibility of caring for the needs of another creature–he’ll do that next spring when he finds a mate and takes care of her and the nest of eggs. I’m not sure if mallard drakes help take care of ducklings.
Can you tell I like to watch ducks too? I love watching them “dabble”, which is when they duck (ha ha–is that why they’re called “ducks”?) their heads underwater and stick up their cute little butts. Diving ducks are super-cute too.
16.
Amy K. | September 4, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Forgive my duck nerdiness… but if you are curious, the blue tipped duck was likely a female Mallard, the white one was a Pekin. I keep chickens for eggs but I love ducks so much I always keep two. Actually right now my two ARE a female mallard and a white pekin.
I think you were really perceptive about the ducks. I love watching ducks and how playful they are. Unlike most prey animals they love to play games and goof off.
Just FYI, pekins can’t fly but mallards can. The white duck may have been happy where she was- but probably had never left that pond in her life. Mallards have the freedom to fly. The mallard duck sounds like an outsider; maybe that wasn’t her pond. Maybe you saw her on a leg of her own journey, and that she’d just rested there before continuing on to someplace more comfortable.
17.
Mel | September 4, 2011 at 4:41 pm
I can’t help but notice the blue tipped feathers duck was probably the most beautiful duck there.
I hope one day you can find the happiness you deserve.
18.
Becca | September 4, 2011 at 7:47 pm
I’m glad you Moonlight and Shadow got out of the apartment and enjoyed the park. Sounds like interesting duck watching. Sometimes we all need to take the Buddha duck’s lead and just sit back and chill for awhile.
19.
Melissa | September 4, 2011 at 7:50 pm
This post was so interesting, LT. I love how you described the ducks. You found perfect pictures to go with it, too. I hope you feel like the white duck soon. (((LT)))
20.
Foster Mom in Training | September 4, 2011 at 9:45 pm
((Hugs))
21.
Gregory Papantonio | February 7, 2012 at 9:25 pm
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