Walking around the neighborhood, I was playing the role of a good parent.  Reminding the kids to stay off the grass, carrying the flashlight, standing by the curb.  Yep, I was doing a good job.

Shortly into our candy gathering adventure, we approached a home and I was asked an unanticipated question.  There standing by the curb was a woman with a large cardboard box.  Setting the box onto the ground she said, “Would you like an antique duck decoy?”  Hum, how many times in my life would I ever be asked this question?  This would probably be it.  The only time.  I had to answer correctly.

As I considered the question, she provided some detail for her box full of antique duck decoys.  Apparently, they were cleaning out some stuff and she had lobbied against the extra work of selling the ducks online.  The easiest approach would be to give away the ducks on Halloween night.

Sure.  Why not?  I would gladly take a duck.  Sure, I know nothing about ducks, wooden ducks, decoys, or hunting, but that was beside the point.  Never look a gift duck in the mouth.

Grabbing the duck, we continued on our way.  Soon, I realized that the duck was dirty.  Soon, I realized that I would be carrying the duck for a long time.  Soon, I realized that I looked ridiculous carrying around a wooden duck.  Soon, I realized that the antique string holding the antique duck would keep breaking (I was carrying the duck by the string) and the duck would keep dropping to the ground.  Soon, I realized that I really did not need a decoy duck.  Soon, I realized that “dropping off” the duck would be littering.  Soon, I realized that I may have made a bad choice.  Well, maybe.

You see, after all of the carrying.  After all of the looking silly.  After all of the regret, I made it home.  Home with my new duck and you know what?  In the daylight of November 1, the duck doesn’t look half bad.  The duck looks pretty cool.  The duck looks like it was worth it.

Sometimes in life we are given a once-in-a-lifetime choice.  Sometimes, we are filled with regret.  Sometimes, our hands end up dirty and the journey is much longer than we anticipate, but you know what?  Sometimes, looking back it all ends up just fine and the adventure sort of makes it all worth while.  Sometimes, especially when a free duck is involved.

Hey, who owns that handsome fake duck?  Oh, that would be me!