Snow Geese Photo Session

 My wife and I used to live in Santa Monica, California, when we were graduate students and on our first jobs.  I once said to her, although owning a place in Beverly Hills was anything but a dream, we actually own more than the rich people and celebrities could ever have.  Just think about it, the Palisades Park (https://laist.com/news/california-incline-set-to-open-befo; and https://pixels.com/featured/palisades-park-bluffs-and-sm-pier-david-zanzinger.html) where the movie "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMOb8NCtjFs) was filmed, was our backyard, and we also had the Pacific Ocean as our swimming pool.  What else can anyone ask for?

After moving to Westfield, New Jersey in 1988, I often had dreams in which I was walking in Palisade Park and on Santa Monica Beach.  It was a shame that I did not discover Brightwood Park till the breakout of the Covid pandemic.  I fell in love with the park since the first time I went there.  Now I told my wife that to me, the park is like an illustration of what the Garden of Eden was like (before Adam and Eve were kicked out of it) and a preview of the New Heaven and New Earth to come.

Ever since then I have been going to the park at least once a day, even in rain and snow.  I enjoy  being a self-appointed park ranger.  Every visit has been an new adventure, and my excitement of discovery cannot be contained.

A few days ago I saw two light-colored geese amidst more than a hundred Canada geese.  I thought they were genetic mutants like albino animals.  After a Google search, I identified them to be snow geese.  I thought it was a coincidence.  To my surprise, this morning again I saw a snow geese couple.  These two did not appear as timid as the ones I saw last time.  From sleeping soundly to waking up and doing morning exercises, they posed and allowed me to take several photos.  Before I thought the male one was all white.  This time I found that the goose was covered with handsome mixed colors.  The female one was wearing a dark-colored coat, looking beautiful and noble.

Compared to Canada geese, snow geese cared much about the cleanliness of where they stay.  After climbing onto the ice, they constantly check to make sure they are not stepping on poop left by others.