The Duck Spa: Finding Solace in a Fractured World

A male mallard swims by just offshore and looks right through me as he pauses, starts preening, and drifts off into sleep. At this distance, the boundaries between us blur, and my mind focuses less on me and more on we. There are thousands of waterfowl on Clinton Lake this time of year, and the prospect of becoming part of the flock draws me back on col…