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When riding through town, as you get close to Bughouse Park, you have to be careful of geese crossing the street. A mother goose may be crossing the street with her baby geese following. They have been here for a long time, so patience is a virtue as these geese cross the street.

Many things can be noticed as these geese cross the street. The mother looks after her babies as they cross any street. The daddy leads the pack and mom brings up the rear providing the vigilant eyes for any possible trouble.

They fly 17 percent faster in a Flying V and they are more efficient in a Flying V and more productive. The lead goose will often go to the back, only for another to take over as lead. And any goose that goes down, two geese will follow until they return to the Flying V. They work together to head back. The team is as strong as the weakest member.

The lift of the Flying V, lifts the birds up but there is no lift for the lead goose. To help avoid tiredness for the lead goose, geese take turns leading.

The geese cheer their progress. They honk to celebrate their successes. The ones in the back honk at the ones in the front to encourage them to fly faster.

Geese are loyal to their purpose! They do not change their migration route significantly . They usually stay within the area. They fly toward the warmth in the spring time to raise their family of goslings. As the goslings grow older, they learn from the older geese in the flock, they do so to maintain the purpose of the flock year after year.

So when we drive carelessly around the flock of geese, think how much we can learn from them. Slow down and let them cross the street on Third Street by the Bughouse, on Main Street by Jacks Creek or by the First Christian Church on 3rd. Remember, they were here first!

They were the best of times with the best of friends in the best of places, Washington, N.C.! The Original Washington!

Harold Jr.