Last Thursday, I was playing golf at Port Ludlow Golf Course on a beautiful day. I was on Hole # 7 with an approach shot of 160 yards. I’d been playing pretty well and felt a good swing coming. As I was about to address the ball, I noticed a mother duck and about a dozen of her babies walking right down the middle of the fairway. They obviously had ignored the signs to stay on the cart paths. Very cute.

As you know, your brain focuses like a laser on what you are thinking of and the mother and her ducklings had captured my attention. I immediately sent my 6 iron shot screaming down the fairway on the ground…right at the ducks! If you know me, you know I don’t kill anything but a good joke. I yelled at the ducks – “Move!!!” The ducks scattered except for one guy who got plunked by the Callaway War Bird (the ball) and took a tumble. I saw his white bottom upended from 50 yards away. My fellow golfers and I stood motionless watching to see what happened.

At that moment, the mother duck swooped into action. She came fluttering over (along with her children) and tended to the fallen duck. They comforted, checked and then helped the little guy up. He was limping but with the help of Mom, was working his way forward.

(Note: Before you start sending me hate mail, I made sure the duck was okay. He basically rubbed some dirt on the “owie” and was walking normally after a few minutes. I smartly took the long way around the fairway as I saw how the mother was looking at me!)

I was so impressed by the mother’s instinct to attend to her fallen child. She completely enveloped him and made sure he was tended to. I guess all mothers regardless of species have that maternal instinct to care for and love their children unconditionally and with great love. Here’s a day after salute to all our mothers who selflessly take care of their flock. Special thoughts to my Mom, my wife, my mother-in-law, and all mothers reading this right now!

This week’s quote – “A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”  ~Tenneva Jordan

© 2012 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved