Saturday, February 21

When I was a child, I lived in a house that sat on the corner of my grandfather’s farm. Lots of interesting things happened on that farm. Memories of that time are mostly sweet, but this week I want to share a memory that scared me half to death.

One spring when I was about nine years old, a flock of Canada Geese stopped to nest by the pond in the barnyard. I loved to go to that pond and watch the geese, gosling, ducks, ducklings and other creatures that made their home there. There were turtles, frogs, tadpoles, dragonflies, and at night the area was lit up by fireflies. And, of course, the Canada Geese made nests there.

I was a familiar sight to the domestic ducks and geese that lived in the barnyard. They paid little attention to the small girl who walked close to their nests and babies. The Canada Geese were not used to people being close to their goslings, and that’s were my problem began.

The day was bright and sunny and all the farmyard babies were being born. Seeing all the fuzzy creatures made me quite curious. I clambered over the fence and walked close to the pond.

Suddenly, I was facing a hissing gander that flew directly at me, beating his wings. I turned, screaming, dived under the split rail fence and ran for the house.

Grandma came out of the house on the run, a tea towel flapping in the breeze. She hurried toward me, her brow puckered, her eyes wide with fear. I ran to her and threw my arms around her waist. She stroked my hair as I sobbed out my frightening experience. Finally, my trembling ceased. She took my hand and we walked to the house.

Grandma assured me that the gander was only protecting his family and never really meant to hurt me. He only wanted to chase me away. When I dove under the fence, he quit the chase.

Looking back, I laugh at the incident. But many years ago, when I was a young girl, it was a very horrific experience. Never again did I approach a Canada Goose that was nesting. I had learned a valuable lesson about disturbing waterfowl when they were sitting their nest.

If you would like to join the I Remember When meme, please visit Speaking from the Heart. It's a lot of fun stepping back in time through our memories. ~Blessings, Mary~

21 comments:

  1. I used to see my grandmothers hands bleed from being pecked when she was gathering eggs... that's all it took for me not to get too close to any animal...

    I've run from a bull...

    Jumped from a pony's back...

    Been scratched by a cat..

    I don't get too close to any amimals. LOL

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  2. Canadian geese can definitely be intimidating! I have so many good memories - I should be writing more of them down.

    Have a great Sunday!

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  3. mary...your story does not surprise me at all. Canadian Geese can be nasty creatures, if they feel they are being threatened at all. We have a pond not far from our house and the flight path to the pond is over our house. They are fine, if you leave them alone!
    I'm looking forward to a happier memory from you!

    ~AM

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  4. Mary, I remember well being chased by geese at my uncles farm. I had never been so scared in my life as when I was running from the gander. My poor sister cried for hours after. Now while I love to watch geese, I will not go near them.

    God bless.

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  5. It seem strange how we look back in our childhood and now we laugh at it.

    Talking about Canadian Geese I been seeing more of them returning to the grain fields.
    Actual they nest out there.

    Coffee is on.

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  6. I don't think they were Canadian Geese but at one of the hospitals in a neighboring town their are always geese and ducks that hang out in the ponds they have there. People apparently feed them and I didn't know that at the time. My friend had her baby so we went to visit. When I got out of the car one of the biggest geese (is that what you call them in single form?) chased me around the car. I got back in and hubby was standing there laughing at me. I had the gift bag in my hand so maybe he thought I had food with me? I don't know but I wouldn't get out until hubby chased him away. This thing was really huge too. And mean!

    We always go and feed the ducks at our local park and the park in another town close to us. I like the ones that don't chase me since I don't like to run from wild animals too often. LOL

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  7. I bet it scared you, gosh what a frightening experience...

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  8. Oh dear! For me, it was a thunderstorm when I was walking home from school in the first grade. I ran to a stranger's house and they called my mom. I waited out the storm there. I was a woos! :)

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  9. We had a CG gander become a little aggressive when we took Nikki Dee to the park last spring. We quickly backed off.

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  10. I always enjoy reading your memories Mary. We have some geese in a park not far from us and they seem to be quite aggressive (even though I don't believe they're nesting) They come right up and peck at your legs or ankles. This is the same park that has so many peacocks, so perhaps that is a factor as well..
    Have a great week.
    xo

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  11. When I was young are neighbors had some geese. A couple of them would get out of their pen on occassion. We would be out playing and those geese would come and run after us, I was terrified of them.

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  12. This story reminds me of the time (20 yrs ago) that me and cousin Brenda had taken all of the kids to Sweetwater Park to feed the ducks. Brenda was on the edge of the lake and walked close to a bush - some type of large goose came out from behind it, and gave Brenda a good chase, hissing and flapping it wings. She ran screaming and hollering until the goose gave up the chase. It gave us all a good scare - but we learned to never go near brush on the water again without being cautious.

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