A High Park afternoon

[vaneramos]

Amelanchier arborea, serviceberry





Canada geese


Tuesday afternoon I explored the circumference of High Park. Down the west ravine, the wail of spring toads drew me to Grenadier Pond.

A black-crowned night heron arose with a croak and glided away. From behind I saw two white hindneck plumes trailing down its black back between white wings. Toronto harbour is an excellent place to spot these elegant birds. An American bittern retreated to distant cattails. A lone cormorant kept diving, reappearing and fluttering water across its back.

I had just finished admiring this goose family when the parents started honking and sprinted across the grass, goslings in tow. A grey Weimaraner hurtled after them. I darted to prevent slaughter, but the birds reached safety.

The owner, a female jogger, yelled at me, "He wouldn't have done anything!"

"Well I was just making sure," I replied.

She retorted indignantly.

It was a leash-only area.

As a child I was punished with isolation for expressing anger. I still can hardly feel it without fear of retribution. Holding it in, I quickly grow weary of tempestuous thoughts repeating themselves.

I followed The Queensway eastward, then threaded back through hilly woodlands to Bloor Street. The sun drowsed behind a sweaty sky.

Comments

[kwintt.livejournal.com]

What a lovely goose family. I'm glad you intervened to save the goslings. Weimerarners are born and bred to fetch dead birds. I would imagine that instinct would win, although a live hostile goose would give him something to remember for a long time. I've heard that they, like swans, can break an arm in the fury of a defense.

Anger: I don't like expressing it either, just because of the way it makes me feel afterwards. Anger toward politicians and policies is one thing - but anger toward an individual person feels like it poisons my body. My heart races and I ruminate on the topic later. My father died of anger; that may have something to do with my feeling about it.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

The heart racing: that's exactly what I experience. Then ruminating ad nauseum. There are healthy ways of expressing anger, rather than losing one's temper or turning it inward on slow burn. Assertiveness is helpful. I have problems with that; it's one of topics we'll cover in my new anxiety group.

I'm glad you like the geese. I found the goslings irresistible.

One of these days I must slow down on a walk and take my pencils!

[kwintt.livejournal.com]

Yes and then show us what you draw!

[missprune.livejournal.com]

"weary of tempestuous thoughts repeating themselves," what a good way to put that. I know the feeling. I nurse grudges for years, where I can't come out and say to the person involved just how angry I am! And the imaginary diatribes just keep on playing in an endless mental tape loop.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, the endless tape recorder! I'm looking for ways to turn it off.

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing those pictures and observations. I sometimes forget what a wonderful urban oasis High Park is. I should take more time in the summer to explore and enjoy it. I'm glad I got to do that today through your journal.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. Maybe we'll explore it together sometime. On the back of my mind I had a question whether I could ever like High Park as well as Eramosa River Park here in Guelph. I don't think I could, but it is lovely.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

Interesting interaction,
your actions must have triggered her guilt so in typical fashion she lashes out at you as if you were over reacting. or that is my take on it anyway.

the first step to turning it off is recognizing the pattern, for what it is.

Be well Van
connor

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Your take sounds correct to me. Why do I feel nervous about what people think of me, even when they're idiots? Getting a thicker skin would certainly be worthwhile.

xoxo

[lilactime.livejournal.com]

What a silly bint. Of course the dog would have snatched a gosling if it could catch one. I saved a slow-moving Ovenbird this morning from my two dogs who thought it might make a tasty breakfast.

Idiots that don't obey leash laws make all dog owners look bad.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It annoys me when I see pet owners who think rules are for everyone else. I've had and loved many pets myself, and it's impossible to prevent the occasional wildlife casualty, but it only takes a little care to respect sensitive areas and keep pets out of them. Sometimes even urban spaces like High Park contain unusual and valuable nesting habitat.