Common Birds 61 - Common Goldeneye

Wednesday, January 31

I feel myself becoming a dad. I realize I’m already a dad. My son is about six months old, but still there’s being a dad and there’s being a dad. 

How do I pass something I love to the next generation, specifically my son? I want him to love birds, and learn to live a happy life, and have faith and hope in a good God, but how do I pull it off? My current plan is to just be thrilled about birds, and I’ll know the ultimate result in, oh, 22 years or so. But for now, I’m sticking to my plan. 

So yesterday, I wrapped up my work (I work from home on Tuesday) and my son and I went for a walk through downtown Haverhill. The same Merrimack River which flows past my work flows through Haverhill, and in town a nice boardwalk runs along the river. We’re walking down the boardwalk, and I’m excitedly pointing out all the birds we’re seeing. Look up at the ring-billed gulls, spiraling high above us. That flock of small black darts are starlings. Down by the pillars of the bridge are a male and female common merganser, diving for fish. Here, let's get right next to the railing and look down. There’s a stunning common goldeneye down there. Think of that, bud, a common goldeneye just five minutes from home!

I’m beaming and I look over at my son. He slowly looks up at me, his little, red-rimmed eyes peeking out from under his bear hat, and gives me a biiiiig yawn. He can’t talk, but he doesn’t need to. I’ve given that look before: Dad, can’t we just go home?

Oh well, we’ll see how the next 22 years go.