Like a Box of Chocolates…
Yesterday I took P to this pond next to Target to feed the ducks and other assorted water fowl. It’s such a weird place for a conservation pond and frankly, I don’t know where they get off calling it that because the pond is full of parking lot run-off water and a sick amount of litter.
It’s surrounded with a chainlink fence but the ground isn’t level so the ducks can squeeze under it and wander around in the little grassy area where people like me go to feed them. I go there, as opposed to other ponds, because there are always a bazillion ducks there while the other ones are hit or miss and nothing spells disappointment like kids all hopped up to feed ducks that aren’t there.
So I brought a bunch of stale bread and we proceeded to feed these gorgeous ducks and their ducklings, a few pigeons, these tall white birds with pink beaks and one odd small black duck-like creature with a bright red beak.
While we were there, an elderly couple came up and were watching us feed the ducks and talking to us. The woman went to the grocery store next door to get them some bread of their own while the man and I made small talk under a shady tree and P gave the last of his bread to the baby ducks.
I don’t know how we got on the subject but somehow we started talking about the environment and in his thick accent (Austrian or perhaps Swedish?) the man, who had to have been at least 70, noted that because of decades of rampant and unchecked use of poisons and chemicals, we rarely see frogs or butterflies anymore; that we’ve ruined the earth in the quest for financial gain.
Of course, this isn’t news to me and I was totally nodding my head in agreement when he said he fears for his grandchildren and he doesn’t want to imagine what life on earth will be like in thirty years. The sadness in his voice was palpable
We continued to talk and it seemed so odd that I would make this man’s acquaintance and that we would have this common ground. No offense, but I generally find older people, especially ones like my MIL, who has lived a life of privilege, to be completely clueless and apathetic about the things he and I were talking about so it made the experience a tad surreal.
When his wife came back, our focus turned back to the ducks and we eventually parted ways but his sad words are still echoing in my ears.
See, THIS is why I have you in my blog feed reader: YOUR BLOG? My box of chocolates.
If her were still alive, that could have been my Opa… He was an avid Harrowsmith reader, a grower of beans and rhubarb and various other veggies, had a compost heap out back before there were tidy plastic composters to buy. They were out there before us.
I’m glad you didn’t say “Stop whining old timer.” You’re nice, Izzy.
You forgot to mention the cranky speedo guy next door. He could really spoil it for a lot of old people.
Seriously, though, I imagine it was sadly vindicating to talk with someone who has actually witnessed the gradual degradation of our environment.
I hope you see meeting him as a sign that you are doing the right thing—one of those little earth angels who surprises us from time to time when we least expect it.
So sad but true…but one thing I noticed has been since I have moved out to the middle of nowhere land there are TONS of fireflies a.k.a “lightning bugs” We just caught a jarful the other night and I am going to post about it sometime this week. It was sooo much fun.
You know I think about frogs too…they are the first to go, and I have nothing against toads, but I would love to see a frog over a toad any day. You used to be able to find frogs in the ponds and streams here, but now you don’t….
Live in Alabama in the country — we have plenty of frogs and butterflies and more than enough lightening bugs (fireflies)!
Sometimes I stop and think, hm, why did the universe send me this person today? Generally there’s a reason.
How wonderful that you had the opportunity to meet him.
People certainly can be like a box of chocolates. You just never know what your’e going to get.
I don’t think you judge fairly (though I guess I understand why, because of your experiences). There are (sadly) just as many “young people” that don’t get the whole “we are killing ourselves, and destroying our planet” point as old people.
And, while it may be statistically more significant among well to do, as opposed to “blue collar” America, there are plenty of “blue collar” people that believe in “consumerism above all” as well.
The fact of the matter is, it is just plain sad, that it should be so shocking to run across somebody that agrees with that point of view. It should really be much more commonplace.
I don’t generally care much for the elderly either, but once in a while you run across a real gem. Sounds like this man was a real sweetheart. What a great experience.
LAH beat me to it, but I was going to say maybe it’s where you live! I am in Alabama also and we’ve got plenty of darn frogs here…as plainly seen in my driveway where a few met their match with a Honda Odyssey. A pond across the street from a friend’s neighborhood has so many frogs that at night it’s almost scary sounding. Plenty of butterflies, lightning bugs and other creatures, too! :)
oh my gawd! My mom actually said to me she thought global warming was BS. I told her I had to get off the phone with her!!!!!!!!! Aaak