Today has been a mixed lot

[valis2]

This morning on the way to work, my sister and I were on a five lane road and noticed a mama duck and her ducklings crossing the street. (Don't worry--happy ending, I swear.) The curb was too high for the ducklings, and mama got up into the grass and the ducklings were all stuck on the curb, feebly trying to jump their way up the steep concrete.

We weren't in the far right lane, so my sister waited, hoping to get over so I could jump out and help. People kept driving at full speed in the right-hand lane, in between us and the ducklings. One car drove by so close to the curb that I was terrified. Finally, my sister managed to get over in the right lane and turn on her hazard lights, and I hopped out. There was only one duckling left on the curb at this point, and it tried to run away from me further down the curb, but to no avail; I scooped it up, light and downy and peeping and struggling, and put it on the grass to reunite with its quackifying mama.

I was in an agony of terror the whole time, though. Ducklings on the street is something I just can't even bear to think about, and even now I'm trying not to because I know I'll burst into tears. Even though nothing happened and all the ducklings went with their mama, I was still freaked out. I'm strange that way.

So anyway, usually my sister and I have lunch together, but this week is the last week for one of the nurses (she's retiring), so we went out with her and another nurse. I've barely talked to either of them before, so by the end of the meal I was thinking the usual--you know, I'm talking too much, and isn't this a really long story about nothing and I should really shut up now. And the nurse who's retiring got up and said goodbye and turned to me and said, "Valis, you are delightful." Which completely took me by surprise and was a rather wonderful thing.

On the way home from work I got the hiccups.

Defriended by someone and then friended by a Russian LJ. I think this is my first or second journal-in-another-language friending. I will not be friending, because I do not read Russian. Sorry.

Another day in the scintillating Valisverse. lol.

Comments

[logospilgrim.livejournal.com]

~I scooped it up, light and downy and peeping and struggling, and put it on the grass to reunite with its quackifying mama.~

You are my hero.

*professor loves ducks*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you! They were absolutely adorable beyond belief and I am sooo glad that they all got safely to the other side of the road. :)

[slavelabour.livejournal.com]

Oh god. I'm still traumatised by the baby duckling I dealt with last year. I'm dreading the hatching season here. Dreading it.

Thanks for being awesome, chick. *tacklehugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I totally remember those entries--so sad, so very sad, and I'm sorry. *giant hugs* I hope you get through this season with no further traumatizing. :)

[innerslytherin]

We have a lot of ducks and geese along the road I work on, and on at least two occasions I've seen traffic come to a dead stop to let ducklings and goslings cross the road. :)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness for that! I was really baffled this morning--why did no one stop? It was crazy.

[idleleaves.livejournal.com]

OMG, little duckling. You're awesome for rescuing it.

(If you're strange that way, then I am, too. Sometimes I think I have more empathy for little animals than humans.)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Poor little thing, I couldn't help but try to get it to its mama. The others were able to basically use each other as a leg up, but the last one couldn't do that. :(

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Ducklings on the White House steps! It must be that time of year. You rock for saving the little fluffball. :-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Poor little thing! I was so terrified that it would run the wrong way. Thank goodness I got to it!

And that's so cute about the White House ducks. eee!

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

Poor baby, thank God you were there to rescue it. I am constantly freaking out when I see anything on the road that even remotely resembles an animal. Luckily, about 99.9% of the time, I am worrying about a tire tube.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, it's such a relief when it turns out to be a bit of tire. I'm always so happy. This made me crazy! I'm just glad it's over and I hope they stay in the pond and don't try anything crazy like another crossing.

[todayiamadaisy]

I love that ducks seem to have this idea of 'yes, the traffic will stop for me'. And it usually works, but it's terrifying to watch.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I do not have a strong enough constitution for that, seriously! heh.

[oddmonster.livejournal.com]

Dude, you totally get points both for rescueing a duckling--that shit is my nightmare--and for warning up front that there was no terror in the entry.

If you'd like, you can redeem your points for the fic prompt of your choosing.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I know that I would have violently skipped an entry with a first couple sentences like those, so I had to make sure people knew that it would turn out happy in the end. ;)

There was something so unexpectedly tactile and astonishing in holding that duckling. I still can't quite articulate it.

[venivincere]

...went with their mama, I was still freaked out. I'm strange that way.

Oh, no you're not. I freak out just the same way. It's like that vertigo terror you feel in the back of your knees and legs, it's such a horrible feeling. If you hadn't said "happy ending" right up front, I could NOT have continued reading. I'm glad they're all OK!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee! I knew that I would have started bawling just after the first couple sentences, so I had to clarify that right upfront. *nodnod*

And yeah, I'm just so relieved. Now that I've put a little distance between the event and this moment, it feels a little better. :)

[venivincere]

Deep breaths all around, I think, and a stiff martini.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Chocolate helped, definitely. ;)

[artystone.livejournal.com]

Make way for Ducklins!
Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpz9USr1RHg&feature=PlayList&p=EE0B8EDE2376AF05&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=57

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, absolutely adorable! That was so cute! And that guy was smrt. Very awesome, thank you!!

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

I once took my son to the Public Garden so we could read Make Way for Ducklings where it happened.

I always love how that story shows the nature of human compassion and kindness, organized kindness. This time it was you and your sister who organized it.

I'll bet more people than you think find you delightful.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I bought a ducky in Boston for my nephew, and he still loves it. ;) It was such a cute duck! And yeah, that story is wonderful.

(And it's hard for me to imagine that people find me delightful! lol. I know, the issues, they are many.)

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

Saved the ducky! You're a good person, valis. *hugs* And it would have me in tears as well. I find that quite normal.

And, yes, you are delightful! I guess you should finally accept that :-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The poor little thing was so cute! And it probably would have found its way down to the next entrance, but still, I saved it a few steps. heh.

(And thank you, you're so sweet!)

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

A good deed, a happy ending, and a compliment = good day.

You ARE delightful. *nods*

&hearts

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was kind of a good day overall, despite the terrible duckling scare! hee! :) And thank you, you're sweet to say so!

[little-tristan.livejournal.com]

Apparently you're the only one who's read Make Way For Ducklings! Unless you haven't. Then you really should.:)

I never friend the Russians back, either, but they usually turn out to be bots, anyway. You'll be defriended in a few days, so don't take it too hard.

Way to be delightful!
*hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I have read it, though it's been ages and ages at this point. :)

And yeah, journals I don't understand make me wary. Definitely. *nodnod*

[gypsyjolie.livejournal.com]

You, dear Valis, ARE delightful.

There! Twice in one day. :)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, shucks! hee! Thank you. I know that Sugar is in my fan club, at the very least. *grins*

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad the baby ducks are ok.

And you truly are delightful. I've missed you! (I'm finally mostly back on lj after being away for the last 4 months)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I was actually thinking of you just yesterday!! That is so crazy! I am serious--I almost sent you an email to see how you were doing.

*giant hugs* Hope things are going well for you! I've missed you!

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

*I* already knew you were delightful!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee!!!!! YOU are the delightful one, and I have the squid to prove it!!!!!

[tjs-whatnot.livejournal.com]

Awesome!

Reminds me of this time when we were in our yard and watched a deer and its baby walking down the street and the baby took one wrong step and wound up inside our fence and the mom on the other side and the baby was frantic not knowing how to get out again and walked up and down the yard with the mom on the other side and I didn't know what to do...it wasn't like I could go over and guide him, he'd FREAK...so I just had to watch as he went up and down and FINALLY he found the opening again! ANIMALS!!

Hahaha, that woman is right, You are delightful! But I have that fear too when I meet new people. :((

[valis2.livejournal.com]

omg, I would have gone nuts with the baby deer thing! Poor little guy! Thank goodness he found the opening. And yeah, you probably would have caused them both to panic. :(

And aw, thank you! I totally have that fear. I am pretty overwhelming sometimes. lol.

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

"Valis, you are delightful."
True!

Glad to hear you rescued the ducklings--so scary, though!!!! OMG!
*HUGS*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The ducklings really traumatized me. I know, I sound like a drama llama, but holy cow, I was absolutely terrified that something bad would happen. *hugs* Thank you!!

[hardboiledbaby]

You iz totally made of stupendous win ::smishes you madly::

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Awwww! Thank you! I'm just so happy the wee little fluffballs were okay. :) *smishes you in return*