Dinner Guest

When you’re eating outside, you never know who or what might decide to join you. Such was the case while at Disney’s Magic Kingdom last week. I was sitting at a sidewalk table with my one year old granddaughter, watching the ducks wander around beneath the tables, looking to snatch up anything anyone might drop in the way of food, accidentally or on purpose. Aurora was fascinated, and it kept her occupied while Mariah, Dusty, and Kim went to order and collect our supper.

Though Aurora is a fabulous eater, she is not greedy, and is known to share what is on her plate with Cleo, her dog. Since Cleo wasn’t with us, she spread around a few crumbs of her hotdog and french fries to eagerly awaiting ducks. Mariah looked up from her meal and calmly said, “Uh oh!” I turned in my chair to see that a Great Egret had come to join the party. Because he was on the other side of a low fence, I didn’t give it much thought. I don’t, however, know why. That fence was of no consequence to it.

A Great Egret stands 3 ft tall and has a wingspan of roughly 67 inches. It’s a beautiful bird, but its most impressive feature, when up close and personal, is its large dagger-like beak, that is very fast and deadly when it comes to spearing fish.

Mariah’s eyes suddenly grew large and she managed to croak out, “Mom! Mom! It’s trying to reach under your chair!” I turned to see white plumage right next to me! Not near me, but exactly next to me! I am roughly 5 ft tall, so when seated this bird and I are  eye to eye, and the next thing I know that’s exactly what I’m looking at! Well, that’s a bit creepy, but what really got my attention was that dagger he calls a beak!!!

The seating arrangements are now me, Mr. Egret, Aurora, and then Mariah. Aurora is in her stroller. She is fascinated with our new dinner guest, and curiously looking up at him. All I could see were my sweet granddaughter’s beautiful blue eyes, and this bird’s dagger-like beak. Though the bird was only interested in the piece of hotdog under my chair, there was no way for us to know that. Instinct took over in both Mariah and myself. She rose to try to shoo it away. I stuck my arm in front of the bird to cover Aurora’s face with my hand in an effort to protect her. I thought for sure my swift movement would scare it, causing it to strike out in fear. Every fiber in my body was waiting for that egret to stab my arm with its beak! I knew it was long enough and powerful enough to go clear through my arm. Thank goodness Dusty is a paramedic, because I was sure at any moment I was going to need one! Mariah’s efforts to scare it off went ignored, and it wasn’t until the egret had claimed his prized hotdog that he had enough of us, and hopped away, leaving everyone unharmed.

Wow! Just wow! I’m not sure if the experience was a treat, or a terrifying experience. Perhaps both, as my heart was pounding, but it was good to know when faced with danger, whether real or perceived,  I am still my family’s Secret Service detail.