Good for the Goose

I am surrounded by excellent people.  My friends are the sort who will rally at a moment’s notice.  With little effort on my part, a team of people will quickly respond to any need posed.

Yesterday, a friend called me.  He had been bird watching in an infrequented area.  While there, he observed that a live goose was caught in a muskrat trap.  The season for trapping muskrats ended over a month ago.  It was unlikely that a trapper would be by to take responsibility for this animal.  So, my conscientious friend tried to reach the goose in order to set it free.  However, the goose eluded him.  He came to the conclusion that to liberate this creature would require joint effort, a blanket and waders.  My friend called me to see if I knew of anyone who would lend a hand.

After a couple of phone calls, three good-hearted men and I rendezvoused near a marsh.  It was dusk at this point.  Flashlights and blanket in hand, we tromped through the woods to rescue a Canada Goose of all things, or as the initial friend referred to it “sky carp”.  People may not adore this animal, but we all agreed that any animal should not be abandoned to such dire straits.

After a short hike through the woods, we arrived at the lake where the Canada Goose was still stuck.  A plan was swiftly developed and put into action.  I should tell you, this was not really a lake.  It was most definitely a marsh.  The sort of place that you sink up to your knees in muck before having reached the water’s edge.

The first friend had gone home and packed his waders.  He did not hesitate to plot the course.  The rest of us did not have waders.  A second friend took off his shoes and socks.  He bravely ventured forward, barefooted, in the dark, cold, marshy muck.  I lingered where the muck would only go half way up my boots and gladly cheered them on.

Muddy mucky muck mud can be really challenging.  Acres of wet earth join forces to suck your boots into its deep darkness.  The longer a person stands in one place, the deeper he/she sinks.  I must admit, a brief emotion of fear and regret swept over me as I anticipated my friends struggle to return from the unforgiving mud.  I thought to myself, what have I done?  Did I risk the well being of people I love for the sake of a goose?

Two brave men gently approached a tired goose.  It was dark.  From the shore, friend number three shined a bright light for the rescuers.  A blanket was gingerly placed over the goose’s head and wings, with very little struggle.  The fowl was hoisted up from the water’s surface by one man while the second man worked the muskrat trap open, freeing the goose’s leg.

My heroes.

Earlier in the day I was talking to someone about the way the world is going and how ugly it is becoming.  How many people would have given the goose a second thought?  How many people would go barefoot in the cold muck?  How many people would do it for sky carp?  Perhaps there are more good people in the world than seems likely according to news reports and social media.  Regardless of reality elsewhere, I know my world is filled to the brim with exceptionally kind people.