date night/ loves forms

available for purchase. email for details.

If you go to the Lake separating Asbury and Ocean Grove you will not see these two swans, you will see their baby who is the absolute king of the lake.

Several months ago, these swans had two babies. As is typical, the swans were fiercely protective of their babies. they would swim with one on their back and another right alongside. They would lay with them on the little floating islands and hiss everything away that was a potential threat. They were learning from their parents.

I was heartbroken one day when only one of the baby swans was with the parents. The swans cared for the surviving baby until the flash flood came soon after, and the swan parents left their remaining baby well before the typical time frame. swans generally remain under their parents protection until about 5-10 months. When I saw him for the first time alone and so tiny, my immediate reaction was to worry for him, and heartache . But after watching him for some time I had a really strong feeling that he would be okay. He seemed very brave and confident and like he would figure it out. I still called a kind rescue who said someone had been out to check the previous night and also said he looked remarkably okay, and that it truly was best to let him do his thing.

Now, months later, he has been doing his thing. successfully at that 5-10 month range when his parents would have left him, he is starting to get whiter, and much bigger. He seems to be a very gentle swan who doesn’t mind any of the other animals in the lake, nor people on the sides. of course, one may worry that he was not tought what is friend and what is foe, or you could just tilt your head and see what I see. maybe he is both powerful and trusting and they easily coexist. Maybe the other animals in the lake stepped up to take care of him, maybe he has managed most of it on his own. either way he is remarkable to me. Who knows if he will figure out flying, or what the rest of his journey looks like, but I see so much beauty in it. it reminds me that everything just is, and usually, everything is just working out as it should. There is sadness and “okayness” and they coexist as well. Love and its many forms.