What We Do For Love

Pigeons mate for life. Apparently they are very faithful partners, picking a spouse and staying together as long as they both shall live. Very romantic. Very apropos considering my up coming nuptials.


As I pulled into my parking garage the other day I saw two pigeons on the ground.


One was very still, appearing to be on its side. Its feathers were ruffled. It was not moving much.


The other was very close, I presumed it was the fallen pigeon's mate.


As I pulled closer, the larger pigeon walked even closer to the "dead" one, placed its body on top of the other and appeared to protect its fallen lover from my oncoming vehicle.


I was touched. I thought of husbands protecting their wives. I thought of bravely standing in the face of danger to protect the one you love. I might have teared up. It was that touching.


I was very careful not to hit this grieving bird and its dead spouse.


As I passed by, through tear blurred eyes I looked down at the two pigeons. I wanted to respect the lost life, the grieving lover, the sadness in death. It was at that moment, however, that I realized I had been duped by deviant animals.

These birds, were doing the nasty. In public. There was no mistaking it.


Her feathers were ruffled. She was lying motionless on the ground.


He was on her back, but it was certainly not to protect her.


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After I drove by, parked my car and started walking out, I saw the two pigeons again. They were no longer "together", but rather his back was turned to her and they were a couple feet apart. She was clearly lecturing him about getting caught. In pigeon language, she said "this whole sex in public thing was YOUR idea."