(Please) Feed the Animals
When I lived in Washington, my neighbor would talk nostalgically for the town of Grants Pass. While I’d always made a mental note to get there, not until today had I actually done so.
Arriving earlier this morning, we spent a few hours strolling the quaint downtown district which among other things includes a riverfront city park. Competing with no shortage of breweries, Dutch Bros coffee stands, and vapor cigarette shops, the park has a trick up its sleeve – attracting patrons by enabling them to get up-close with nature.
Seemingly known as “the spot” to feed animals native to the area, parents who undoubtably would otherwise recoil in repulsive horror when little Jimmie plays in the dirt, have no hesitation handing over fistfuls of breadcrumbs to their little guy, setting Jimmie loose to fend for himself amongst the mob-like herd of pigeons, seagulls, ducks, & geese, all aggressively jostling for their portion of food scraps.
As you would imagine, emotions of the pre-school aged children ranged from smiling ear-to-ear to those with terror stricken faces. Not one to be left out of the action, I immediately bullied my way into the scrum, mixing it up with kids and bird alike.
Not withstanding my own actions, I can only guess how many social media “moments” are documented daily.
And yes, bird poop was everywhere.
Wandering With Purpose 