GOOSEBUMPS

 

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Steve Hartman, of the "CBS Sunday Morning" program, brings us the following story.

"Some of the saddest tombstones are the incompletes, the couples where one has passed, but the other is still present; covered up in a mound of loneliness.

Such was the case of Blossom, the goose. 

Last August she lost her mate, Bud. They'd lived on the pond at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown, Iowa, and according to cemetery staff, after Bud died Blossom's grief was evident as any human. 

Blossom's behavior changed that day. General Manager Dorrie Tammen tells us that after Bud died, Blossom began hanging out at the front office. She was always staring at herself in the window, or standing by the marble headstones. She wanted company, if only a reflection of herself. And that's when Dorrie got a crazy idea, a hysterically, lovely idea. 

She posted a personal ad in the newspaper that read,

'Lonely, widowed female goose seeks life partner for companionship, and occasional shenanigans. I am youthful, adventurous, and lively.'

And what are the odds you're gonna find some female goose a male goose in Iowa? Well, Iowa is lousy with bachelor geese. And before too long, Randy and Dab Hoyt, owners of a widower goose, made the call. Frankie needed a mate. He was so lonely. 

And so, they set up a blind date at the cemetery. And Blossom welcomed Frankie with open wings. Frankie stepped out of his travel carrier, and the two love birds walked off together towards the pond. They haven't left each other's side since that day.

A loving reminder that until your name and date is etched into stone, don't ever give up on finding goosebumps."

(CBS Sunday Morning, 3-5-23)