Little Ducks

VIEWPOINT

By RALPH HARDIN

Evening Times Editor

When I was a kid, there was this song I picked up somewhere along the way called “Five Little Ducks.” It’s basically a “learning to count song” with some very simple math involved. It goes like this: “Five little ducks went out to play, over the hills and far away… Mother Duck said ‘quack, quack, quack’… but only four little ducks came running back.”

From there, four little ducks go out, and only three come back, and so on and so forth, until “no little ducks” come running back. At that point, Father Duck, using the power of manly quacking, goes “QUACK, QUACK, QUACK”… and all of the little ducks come running back.

Fast-forward 40 years or so, and I saw a Facebook post a while back that said, “Are all of my ducks in a row? No, they are not. In fact, I don’t even know where they are. Full disclosure: I did

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even know until just now that I even had any ducks…”

That, I think, truly encapsulates the transition from childhood to adulthood. It also makes me think about my own “little ducks.” Yes, even though they’re not so little anymore, when Mama Duck says “quack, quack, quack” she can usually get them all to come running back, especially for the holidays. Except we had a little trouble this year getting them all in a row — which is understandable these days, as they’ve all got families of their own and grownup responsibilities, so even though we did manage to get them all under one roof for Tanksgiving, we did not get our customary several days together we typically get to enjoy during the holidays.

One had to work the next day, one had a big hunting trip planned, one had to go to his in-laws for a visit… you know how it is.

So, I am thankful that we at least got to have all the ducks in the same pond for a little while. And we will still get to have that extended visit next month for Christmas, so that’s something to look forward to.

And I’ve seen this play out in my own transition from kid yo young adult to having a family of my own to know that this is just how it works, and I’ll always be thankful for even a few hours together.

And now, I’ve got a “grandduck” to worry about and I can barely keep him in a row!