A sad day for a Canada goose

I went to work with Queenee today. The new phone system has a protocol for entering new phone numbers — each number that any extension might want needs to be programmed into the main directory first. Queenee actually works when she's at work, and her co-worker is no help. So I went to see what I could do. What I could do took less than five minutes. No problem, I did a system backup and update while I was there.

After work, we went to Costco to buy a ham, wine and whatever else for Easter dinner. At the exit on Rte 24 we saw the saddest thing I've seen in a long time. A lone Canada goose was standing in the exit median area … just standing there, looking around. Then we saw its mate, obviously dead, not more than fifteen feet away.

Canada geese pair bond. Once they have chosen a mate, they stay together for life. While they may not be 100% monogamous, they do have a very real bond. I was heartbroken for the lone goose, standing there by the highway keeping watch over its dead mate. I don't know how long ago the dead goose was killed — from the quick glimpse I had, it appeared recent — but the mate will remain there for days before giving up.

It's heart wrenching to know that there is nothing you can do for the remaining, ever loyal goose.