Every Day is an Unscheduled Traffic Stop

The other day, I had one of those rare, quiet moments where I realized just how much beauty and comedy, is tucked into the corners of a normal day. It hit me: Every day is full of surprises. As mentioned before, I write content to auto post. Yesterday’s can be other days or even a few weeks ago 🙂

Welcome to Life Captured!

The Daily Morning Routine

The day started with its usual hectic, modern rhythm: chauffeuring my oldest granddaughter, Brie, between wrestling practice and driver’s ed. It’s a tight schedule. Wrestling wraps up at 10:30 AM, and she has to be back for driver’s ed by noon. We were right in the middle of that midday dash when the universe decided we needed to slow down. Literally.

We were driving just inside the city limits when all lanes of traffic came to a grinding, inexplicable halt. In a city, your mind immediately goes to the worst: construction, an accident, or just standard rush-hour misery.

But as I peered through the windshield, the culprit behind the major traffic delay revealed itself: a grand total of five geese (actually more). They weren’t rushing. Not one in a panic. They were taking a leisurely, incredibly casual Sunday stroll across a three-lane roadway (if you count the center turn lane). The entire city was at a complete standstill, entirely held hostage by a handful of birds who clearly felt they owned the asphalt.

It was a beautiful, hilarious contrast. For a moment, my brain couldn’t even process getting my phone out. I was just mesmerized by the sheer audacity of these geese. By the time I finally snapped out of it and realized, “Wait, this is a legendary photo op!” the feathered pedestrians were already making their exit.

I managed to snap just one quick picture before they cleared the road (the featured image above), but it was enough to remind me: sometimes, the best part of the day is the part you never could have planned for.

What I found intriguing, a blogging friend had made a post titled, His Eye is on the Sparrow (and the Goose) I commented on this post at 2:28 am on June 1st. The featured image above was taken later that very same morning. What a coincidence, or a divine message? 🙂

The Saga Continues…

But this story isn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Once I finally remembered to snap that photo of our magical, slow-motion traffic jam, I looked over toward where the geese were heading. Lo and behold, an even bigger welcoming committee of geese was waiting on the side of the road. Oh, how I wish I could have captured that entire feathered convention! I figured it was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. After all, who in their wildest imagination would think another photo op like that would happen?

Enter the Next Morning

I hopped back in the car to go pick Brie up for round two of her wrestling-and-driving schedule. And there they were again. Apparently, this three-lane roadway was now their official morning commute. This time, I spotted them on my way to pick her up, rather than on the return trip.

For the rest of the drive, I kept my fingers crossed, actively wishing for a little bit of traffic luck. I desperately wanted them to still be there for the return trip so Brie and I could see them together.

The universe delivered. Not only were they still hanging around on our way back, but I was actually prepared this time. I managed to snap these pictures; proof that lightning (or in this case, a flock of very casual geese) really can strike twice!