Lame Duck and Greenlake

Seattle is a society of groundhogs. Seattlites hide away in their homes, coffee shops and bars during the winter only to emerge blinking into the sun come April. Sunlight is an optional luxury here, yet amidst the love of rain, wind and Northface gear there emerges a desperate need after 5 months of dreary weather to lace up some running shoes, drink a cup of coffee and spend an afternoon on the 2.8 mile pathway around Greenlake.


Nate and I gave in to such an urge this morning and decided to grab some coffee and scones then stroll around the lake drinking in the sun, the flowers, the crazy people and the ducks! Since walking and eating is a challenge for some of us, (mainly me) We decided to sit on a bench and watch the world go by...and then from the reeds along the side of the lake Wobbles appeared!

Wobbles' wife swam with him to the shore and nudged him up onto the path (one could almost hear her whisper "those two with the coffee look gullible...pull the invalid card") and returned to the water. Wobbles took a great long look at the daunting path filled with strollers and feet and began his journey...on one leg! He limped slowly towards our bench quacking quietly to himself. Once safely across the concrete he nibbled plaintively at a small dandelion and sat at our feet. Occasionally he would raise himself up limp in a circle, quack at us and settle back down eying our coffee cups all the while.

Not wanting to gather all the ducks of Greenlake to our feet we refused to feed him and yet he continued to sit and quack, quack and sit until we couldn't bear it any longer. Rising from our bench, confident that we could out-run the lame duck, we continued on our way but not without a twinge of guilt leaving poor Wobbles alone along the side of the lake.

If you are ever in the neighborhood and happen to see a duck swimming constantly in circles...say hi to Wobbles and ask after his wife for us.