Mother Goose says cheers

So its exactly 1 week and about 2 days until Mother Goose spreads her wings and rises up from her nesting place.
And about 2 weeks after that, that Mother Goose decides to move to a new continent altogether.

Looking back over the past 5 years that I've been roosting in this nest, I've seen storms. I've seen predators. I've eggs that have not quite hatched and I've seen other Geese trying to steal my chicks - but when I look back, I can only realise that this is the place Mother Goose was supposed to be living and breathing.
This Mother Goose started when this environment was a shell in an old run-down building. Where the entire 2 duckponds full of people sat in 1pond. Where entire flocks hadnt been developed or created yet.
The other ducks I've met drifting in and out of my pond area have almost all left an impression on my nest - be it a good one, or a not so good one.
There are the faces and quacks that I'd probably choose to forget, but more likely the faces and quacks that I'll carry with me - onto my next destination.

So as opposed to flying South for the winter, this Goose will be mirgrating North for hers.

And its a strang feeling. The last time I did this, I was much younger. My world was my oyster. I had no attachments. No commitments. No additional nesting fees to pay, or extra twigs and feathers that I'd gathered over time - that made my pond-life so much happier and more comfortable. I was a loner - and I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted to.

Now, however, 10 years have passed, and re-nesting just doesnt appear to be as easy as it once was. I am responsible now. I am an adult goose. And I do things that other adult geese do. In fact, its totally un-cool NOT to be able to say, you have a pension and a medical aid. You almost look on others without these things with pity, that they havent MADE it in the Greater Pond, in the way you have.
I look back at the freedom I had 10 years ago, and I miss it.  I have always missed it.

But now, Mother Goose stands at a new precipice - about to stretch her achy wings. About to clean off her ruffled moth-ball smelling feathers. About to stretch out each webbed foot and get ready for a long (perhaps longer than usual) run up to the take off.
Its exciting, but daunting at the same time, and I wonder if I'll be able to get lift off.

I'm sure I will.

I'll take some helium with... just in case.