Welcome to Florida, Ancient Egyptian Geese

An exotic goose surveys three small lakes and buildings below. Mistaking the retirement community in south Florida for elegant palatial grounds, she lands. Sprinkled with wry humor, the tale unfolds. The Egyptian Goose recalls a previous life as Cleopatra and finds goosehood a terrible comedown from her role as the revered Queen of Egypt. She deplores her circumscribed life as a lowly waterfowl and complains bitterly to her complacent mate who embraces his earthbound life. Gradually, however, helped by the realistic gander, she becomes curious about the advanced civilization into which she has been thrust. Her Greek philosophy is challenged. Why do the humans greet each other with pleasantries as if they are all equals? What mysterious force propels the horseless chariots on the roads? Are the small fluffy dogs, accompanied by earnest followers who pick up after them, members of a sacred dog cult? Soon nature makes her a mother. At first begrudging her lack of handmaidens, Cleopatra the goose soon joins her mate in protecting her eggs and then her goslings from the hazards of camera-toting humans, speeding cars and hungry turtles. Awakened one morning by raucous Fish Crows, the pair discover their goslings gone and vultures eviscerating the carcass of an Egyptian Goose. Is it one of their children? The story, illustrated by color photographs, is based on the real-life history of two geese who graced the campus of a retirement community. It can be read as a tale told by one of the greatest queens in world history, and is informed by the latest scholarly biography of her. Or it can resonate as a metaphor for those of us who have been "somebody" encountering a new life, whether it be in a retirement community, new work environment or culture. As Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, and Cleopatra the goose demonstrate, it is also a tale of finding the dignity and courage to face whatever awaits us in the Great Unknown.