Sights of Autumn

Late this afternoon, I was driving home through a less populated part of the county.  I had an open view of the November sky.  Up ahead of me from an open field, a small flock of geese took flight.  They flapped frantically and zigzagged across the highway ahead of me as they made their way heavenward in a helter-skelter fashion.   When they reached their desired altitude, they suddenly spread their collective wings with a graceful elegance and formed themselves into one leg of the chevron, their well-known configuration.

The line slowly undulated as the leg of the chevron switched from left to right and back again.  They would flap their wings again but not in the wild way they did in the beginning.  Then, they would spread their wings and ride the upper level air currents and the wake created by their flock mates.  Watching that supple line going up and down and back and forth, I found myself mesmerized by the beauty and poise of their movements.   As I overtook them and they fell behind me, I realized that a flock of geese flying in formation was one of my favorite fall sights.

Then, I remembered a funny story involving another flock of geese.  About 20 years ago, my parents had come to visit us and my dad was in the backyard barbequing with my husband.   This is the story my husband told me later.  As they stood by the BBQ pit, my dad nudged my husband with his elbow and pointed to a flock of geese flying overhead in that age old pattern.

“Do you know why one side is longer than the other?” Dad asked Armando.  Now, Armando knew my dad came from country folk, as did Armando’s parents and grandparents.  So, in anticipation of hearing some words of country wisdom, he solemnly responded that he didn’t know why one side was longer than the other.

“Because there’s more geese on that side.” 

Armando realized he had been had and I’m sure Dad was delighted that he had sucked him in.  Armando had a good laugh about it when he told me the story later that same night. 

Dad always loved a good joke.