Making way

As we’re leaving the resort in Maryland, everyone stops, as a family of geese is crossing the road.

No one’s in any kind of a hurry. The geese cross, and everyone can be on their way.

But then, everything changes.

The geese are safely across the road, but that’s only the beginning, as there is a curb taller than any of the three babies, and they have to get up somehow.

This has gone from a cute moment to something we’re all invested in, especially after the guy in the truck which had stopped — probably on his way to work in the neighborhood — said something about other little ones going down the storm drain.

Someone has pulled in behind the truck, and there are a few cars behind us, but no one is honking their horns to get things moving.

It takes the first gosling a few tries, but it climbs onto the curb. The second one does the same.

The third one, however, is struggling. It tries one spot, then another, to no avail. Finally, the guy in the truck grabs what looks like a piece of siding and gives it a boost.

One of the adult geese gives him what looks like a dirty look, but everyone eventually goes on their way.

Waiting again, but this time it isn’t adorable at all, and it’s not by choice.

First was the traffic getting into Philadelphia — the standard afternoon backup that comes with being in a large city.

Then the side streets going to our hotel are blocked. Cars are trying to navigate through the delivery vehicles, the bad parkers and the people who are double-parked.

An ambulance siren goes off, but it’s hard to tell where it’ll be able to go.

Lots of people are honking their horns. No one is feeling helpful.

“Around back.”

We’ve been to Philadelphia multiple times, but always stayed out of town, so we’ve never really been in Philadelphia.

And Philadelphia is a big city, full of neighborhoods with parks and churches and businesses of all types and restaurants and a Whole Foods that someone has to explain is around the back because you’re at the entrance to an apartment building.

That Whole Foods small, but it’s doing big business, with the line down the dairy aisle.

The cashiers ring a bell when they need help, and hold up paddles when they’re free.

The whole thing is actually a little like Manhattan, even though neither would probably feel flattered by the comparison.