Love Story: Lonely Goose Whose Mate Died Finds a Match on Social Media
Rebecca West
Last month, the manager of the Riverview Cemetery in Marshalltown, Iowa, ended up playing the role of matchmaker for a lonely goose whose mate had recently passed away.
The cute couple, Blossom and Bud, reportedly lived together for years on or near the grounds of the cemetery. During their time as a unit, they were particularly fond of a pond there, where they predominantly hung out. Unfortunately, Bud passed away last August, leaving Blossom to face the prospect of spending the rest of her life alone.
Over the winter, the cemetery's general manager, Dorie Tammen, saw that Blossom was spending hours each day staring at her reflection in the glass doors or in the model tombstones located out front near Tammen's office. It wasn't long before it dawned on her that Blossom's behavior was driven by grief and that she was, in fact, lonely and in need of companionship.
Birds are among the small pool of creatures on the planet that mate for life, with an estimated 90 percent of them partnering up permanently. Other animals include wolves, beavers, and gibbons.
Turning to Facebook for help, Tammen posted a personal ad for a "lonely widowed goose" that she noted as being "youthful, adventurous, and lively" while searching for "a life partner for companionship and occasional shenanigans."
Meant as part joke and part fishing expedition, the post had the desired effect when Tammen received a response from Deb and Randy Hoyt, who — believe it or not — just so happened to have a widowed gander by the name of Frankie that was mourning the loss of his mate as well. Small world? You betcha!
The Hoyts explained to CBS News that when they saw the ad they thought "well, that'd be great!" Deb Hoyt said of Frankie, "Plus, he's so lonely."
It wasn't long before the three matchmakers organized a Valentine's Day date for the dejected duo to meet, and the rest, as they say, is history. They took to each other immediately and began swimming around the cemetery's pond, seemingly content to be in each other's company.
"They started walking off together and they haven't really left each other's side since," Tammen related.
https://youtu.be/B8gbZwvAF8A
