Dear Diary,

As anyone who has attended college knows, parking spaces are more precious than either gold or diamonds (and much harder to find). So they would understand why we were not initially happy that the college was going to take out a parking lot and build a duck pond. We were probably in shock because instead of replacing a grassy area with concrete, they were going to replace gravel with vegetation. (The Impossible Dream must have been playing when that decision was made.)

To our surprise, the duck pond was beautiful. Instead of ugly, dusty gravel, there was a little grassy vale with a small waterfall at one end and a sitting area with a foot bridge spanning the water. We were pleased with the administration's decision as we sat back and waited for the ducks...and waited for the ducks.......and waited for the ducks......... Finally, we were told that there wouldn't be any ducks--they were too dirty.

The school would put in fish instead! And not the pretty, brightly colored ones either, but dark brown fish which were barely visible in the murky (and I mean murky) water. The only thing that could be seen, was a large slightly darker brown wriggling thing. What a treat! I guess that we were supposed to be pleased that the fish were rare and expensive (we were better off with the gravel parking lot).

Then one day, there were ducks at the pond. Hurray! Did the school relent? No, the ducks were there without permission. They must have been flying overhead and seeing the pond, thought, "What a great place to live!" So they landed and promptly started eating all of those expensive, nearly invisible fish. Unfortunately failing to see the beauty of this situation, the university rounded up the ducks and transported them someplace south of the city. Afterwards, they proudly announced that even more of those ugly fish had been purchased.

Well, you can't keep a good duck away. They not only came back, they brought friends! The ducks must have been trying to get a college educuation and learn how to read those "No Ducks Allowed" and "No Fishing" signs that the school wished they could install. The university finally gave in and we had an official duckpond (minus those wonderful fish). Apparently, they had forgotten the saying, "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it." The school wanted a duckpond and they got a duckpond.