By Nathaniel Mumau
As I sat weeping beside my mother’s hospice bed, she murmured, “Don’t cry, you silly goose.”
I knew her mind was gone, so I didn’t blame her for the sentiment, but those simple words still hit me in my gut.
My mind shouted hoarsely, What even is a silly goose? Have you ever met a silly goose before?
Of all the birds, geese are the most ferocious. They will hiss and flap their massive wings and chase you around the park if you get too close.
No, geese are not silly.
And now I am the least silly goose of all.
I haven’t heard ‘silly goose’ in years. There are so many phrases that belong to a certain generation. Silly goose told me everything I needed to know about age of the mother and daughter. I thought it was perfect for your story.
A son could sit weeping beside his dying mother.
I’ve often wondered where these expressions came from. My mother sometimes called me a silly goose.