Hello! My name is Graham…Graham Quacker, that is! I am an official, bonafide Thing with Wings, just like you! My mom (who runs this community and sometimes calls me Sweet Tweets) told me that some of my other Things with Wings friends (that would be you!) we’re having a rough time and could probably use a nice break from all the hard stuff, so I am here to tell you my incredible story and offer some duckcouragement. Plus I’m just so irresistibly cute! Or at least that what everyone tells me.
On July 15, 2020 my life was going along just quacky. I had just hatched out of my egg, and I was living the (ducky) dream with my siblings, my mom, and my dad up in a tall pine. And then ‘it’ happened. I call it THE FALL. One minute I was just waddling along doing life, and the next it felt like everything had been pulled out from beneath me and I was tumbling through an unfamiliar abyss. Probably because I actually was. And then I landed with a painful, bone-jarring thud in scary, unfamiliar territory. It hurt. A lot. You know…I bet a lot of you can relate because you’ve experienced THE FALL too. Maybe even recently.
I didn’t know how I was going to eat. I didn’t know how I was going to find shelter. Shoot, I didn’t even know if I could survive the day. I felt so many overwhelming emotions all at once…anger, sadness, frustration, and fear. In an instant, everything I thought I knew imploded and I was absolutely devastated. I felt for all intents and purposes like I might quack…err, I mean crack. The worst part was that it was so unexpected and was of no fault of my own. Just like that everything changed. The truth is, I felt like I was a goner. I was alone and felt utterly hopeless.
I knew I had a choice to make: Curl up in defeat and wait to die…or keep moving and find a way. Though I was hurt, scared, and alone, I stepped out in courage. I don’t know exactly what it was I was looking for in this big, mean, ol’ world…something…anything. I just knew I had to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.
Where it got me was the hot summer pavement in the middle of a busy city street. I cried out, but no one came. I was in danger of getting crushed by a car, but I didn’t know where to turn. The sun beat down on my little body, and I didn’t know where my next drink would come from. And then a big, scary bird started dive bombing me and I knew that I had been brought here to die. Why, oh why?
I felt so tiny and alone in a big world that I didn’t understand and had no control over. I was sure I’d never stretch my wings and fly through the skies again. (Okay, the first time was more like falling, but this is my story and I’m telling it my way). And maybe that was the most devastating thing of all…because that’s what I had been created to do. Every fiber of my ducky being ached to soar through the clear blue skies, but here I was been permanently grounded. I bet a lot of you can relate to that too. It’s hard, right? Really, really hard.
I was sure I’d never stretch my wings and fly through the skies again. And maybe that was the most devastating thing of all...because that’s what I had been created to do. Click To TweetBut then this thing happened. From out of nowhere a compassionate face suddenly looked down from above and saw me there, a giant loving hand scooped me off the ground, and a kind, gentle spirit took mercy on me. Friends, I was rescued! The funny thing is…if I hadn’t been exactly in that spot at exactly that moment in time, I almost assuredly would have died before day’s end. But that’s not my story. I was actually exactly where I needed to be to LIVE, even though I couldn’t see it at the time from my limited perspective.
You see, what I thought was the end of my (short) book was actually only the beginning of a brand new chapter in it. Doesn’t that fill your aching heart with renewed hope!? I was given food and water and placed in a safe box (it was still pretty scary though, I’m not lying) and taken to a place out in the country. I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to become the most beloved, spoiled ducky in the world (or at least I think so) with a fan club that stretched across the nations. Guess what? Your story isn’t over yet either. I promise.
That’s where I met my new mom. She doesn’t look a whole lot like me, but she makes a lot of weird quacking noises, knows exactly what I need to feel better, and is really nice to cuddle with. With her tender care I have gone from destined to die to alive and well. Sometimes all a scared little Thing with Wings needs is someone to see her and tell her she’s not alone after all. Am I right or am I right?
Today I am 16 days old. I had my first bath this week, which I did not think was that great by the way (yeah, yeah… I am a duck and ducks like water yada, yada, yada). My new peeps give me ridiculous amounts of attention, however, and I am growing and thriving. And get this…I’m at this new amazing place because of THE FALL. Let that sink in for a minute!
When it was happening to me, I thought it was the worst thing in the world…and it absolutely was! But I also know now that it’s because of it that I am where I am today too. Shoot, I’m even beginning to believe I will fly again after all. And I believe it for you too.
Do I still miss my old life? Sure. But I’m doing okay. I’ve found my happy place again and I am surrounded by love and kindness. Does the world or future look like I had imagined it? No. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t beautiful. It’s just a different pond than I originally thought I belonged in.
So here’s my duckcouragement to all of you who have experienced THE FALL too. I know you are scared and lonely and that things look bleak. I know you hit the ground hard and found yourself in a really scary place. But you are going to be okay too. This is not the end of your book, just the beginning of a new chapter. Keep waddling forward one webbed foot at a time, my beautiful Things with Wings. I know you feel like it’s the worst thing in the world…because right now it is. I know you are crying out and feel like no one hears you, but the hand of your rescuer is already reaching down from above to pick you up and carry you to a safe, happy place again. I promise. You will spread your wings again. Believe it.
(But I really hope no one makes you take a yucky bath!)
Love,
Graham Quacker (a rescued Thing with Wings)
The hand of your rescuer is already reaching down from above to pick you up and carry you to a safe, happy place again. I promise. You will spread your wings again. Believe it. Click To Tweet**At the time she wrote this on July 31st, Graham was a 16-day-old rescued duckling. Her favorite activities are putting her food in her water so it’s nasty and needs changing every hour, putting her water in her food so it’s nasty and needs changing every hour, pouring her water and food on her bedding so it needs changing every hour, and snuggling with her humans. She does not enjoy baths. Not one little bit.
**Graham is still thriving and living the good life at Dew Drop Farm. She is not defined by THE FALL but rather her choice to get back up again and fight in spite of it.
