March 2025 SOLC–Day 4
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This is a variation on a common scene in our household.
I’m standing in the kitchen, looking at my phone. I call into the family room, “Hey, Kurt, do you know the name of that bird?”
There’s a long pause, then…”What bird?”
“You know. The one that comes out in the spring. At night. Or at least at dusk. And I can hear its call and you can’t.”
I move into the family room. Kurt just looks at me.
I try again.
“You know! That really cute bird…”
He shakes his head, still not sure what I’m talking about.
“It’s so cute! You know! The one that sort of dances when it moves. Like its body moves, but its head stays still and it’s so funny looking. It bops along…” I move my arms a little bit to demonstrate. Entirely ineffectually. (Also, I don’t think he’s even looking.)
“You know!” I insist. (side note: For some reason, despite all evidence to the contrary, I seem to feel that if I just say “you know” enough, he will.)
“I don’t know….” he responds. (See! It doesn’t work!)
I then remember I’ve been holding a phone with a picture of the dang bird on it all this time. I walk over and show it to him.
“Oh! A woodcock!” he says immediately.
“Yes!” I say triumphantly, feeling victorious in our mutual victory.
And then I have a sudden realization.
“OMG, Kurt! Do you remember that game show? $10,000 Pyramid? The one where there were mystery words and one person gave clues, but they couldn’t use the actual words, and the other one had to guess the words?”
“Yeah,” he says, again looking a bit mystified.
“Well, we would be sooooo good at that game. That’s what we do all day long every day! We give clues to try to find a word we can’t think of! We’re naturals!”
Kurt laughs, then pauses.
“There’s one problem with that though, Molly.”
“What?” I ask.
“Well, we have lots of practice with giving clues, but to win that game you had to be able to come up with the actual words they were looking for.”
Oh.
Good point.
Addendum: And now a little bonus for you, because everyone should experience the joy of watching a woodcock dance:
I’ll leave it to you to imagine what my imitation looked like.
Nix the comfort zone 
Definitely cute. I’ve never seen a woodcock. I love this little game you describe. I could picture it all unfolding!
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Isn’t the woodcock dance the best!?
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Kurt’s funny! And you are, too! This one made me smile. His response wasn’t what I predicted after his one problem with that idea, and it was so much better! And I bet y ou did a great woodcock dance.
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It’s probably best that no one witnessed my woodcock dance, but I do appreciate the vote of confidence! lol
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This hilarious video and slice are just what I needed to pull myself out of a bit of a mood I’ve been in since waking.
I loved the vividness of the scene and your dialogue, and I can DEFINITELY imagine you imitating the dance!!
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I have been in a viciously grumpy mood for the last few days. I am glad that the video helped lift you out of yours. Maybe I need to watch it again!
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I think I need to as well, after a crappy afternoon!
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I’m sorry your afternoon was crappy. (I didn’t want to “like” it, but did want to acknowledge it.) I hope tomorrow is a better day! I feel like my intense grumpiness might be lifting a little…so maybe there’s hope for you, too?
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Haha there is so much here! First off, I’m so glad I got to watch that video of the bird dancing- but the music just brought it to a new level!
Your commentary of Kurt probably not even looking at you, and must be a mind reader when you say “you know?” had me chuckling out loud! Such a delightful slice!
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Thanks, Cindy! It’s funny, but until I wrote this, I really didn’t realize that I say “You know!” so much! I’ll reiterate–it is NOT an effective strategy! lol
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Oh, what a great way to begin the morning! Yes, I can imagine you trying to imitate that. I love the music – it’s perfect as a woodcock dance groove. Seeing this makes me want to see some baseball players use it as their walk-up music and do the dance and watch the crowd go wild. Ha! I love this slice so much.
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Thanks, Kim! I love the idea of a baseball team using this! I can picture it perfectly!
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On our dog walk this morning we had talked of he who shall not be named. It was not an inspiring way to start a day. This post and video provided the perfect antidote. I love posts on the ways that we communicate. I’m kind of surprised that the dance moves didn’t work…though K. would’ve had to be watching.
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It’s tough to stay upbeat, isn’t it? The only positive thought I had just the other day was that without he-who-must-not-be-named, Harry P. wouldn’t have reached his full potential. I’m ready and willing to join the DA!!! (Also, even if K had been watching, my dance moves are lamentable ! lol)
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This post made me smile! I love the connection between your conversation and the game show which I totally remember. It made me wish my current family watched those game shows as much as I did growing up. I might need to find some Press Your Luck episodes. That video!
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I could easily have digressed into inflation and how this game morphed, step by step, into the $100,000K pyramid! I’m not familiar with Press Your Luck and will have to check it out.
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I hope you had as much fun writing this as we’re all having reading it!!!
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It was definitely fun to write! I’m glad you enjoyed it, too!
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I love your posts that are dialog between you and Kurt. So similar to our banter. What’s the name of (blank)? For us, it’s usually a person who we are trying to remember. Thanks for this smile!
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Smiles are gold these days, right!? So glad you found one here!
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Hahahah, Molly. So, so good! You had me laughing so loud, my coworker asked me to read this slice to her.
I will try to catch myself doing the same thing to Tim. “You know?!”
Fantastic slice!
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Aw, thanks, Ana! I love hearing that this made you laugh and that you shared it with a coworker.
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I had no idea woodcocks dance. I sent it on to Hannah and a biology teacher friend of ours. And sign me up for you and Kurt on $10,000 pyramid. You could go back to the Big Easy on warmer days if, no make that, when you won!
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I’ve never seen them dance in real life, but I have heard them. They sound a lot like insects! Watching the video is a guaranteed smile! I can only imagine a real life encounter would be even more fun!
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What a funny small moment you captured! That bird dance is too funny!! 🙂 The music in the video really made it even better.
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Isn’t it fun to watch!? Music really does add a lot to the experience.
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Molly, so much fun! Thank you for sharing the woodcock with us. I loved the conversation between Kurt and you. As well as your laughter when acknowledging that you would have to think of the word. The fact that you had a picture of the bird handy while describing it was even better.
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I don’t know why I didn’t just show him the picture at the beginning! lol I guess I wouldn’t have had a slice then though…
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The good news is if I were your partner on The $10,000 Pyramid we would’ve won. As soon as you gave the hint that it dances when it moves I knew. They are so cute & I love to hear them.
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Oh! If the game comes back, I’ll give you a call!
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Molly,
This made me LOL! Honestly, the same variation on a conversation happens in my house daily. It’s frustrating, especially when the discussion rolls around to travel experiences my husband and I have shared.
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We really do practice this type of conversation a lot! lol It’s nice to know we’re not the only ones and that you got a laugh out of reading about our most recent episode.
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That is one adorable bird! I have never seen one, but that is quite a dance…just like the one that you and Kurt do with words! Love it!
Kim
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I’ve heard woodcocks calling, but I’ve never seen them dance in person. Maybe someday…
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Molly, your dialogue doesn’t miss a beat. It could be a script for a stage play. I love part where you’re moving like the bird and he’s not looking – then realizing you have the photo on the phone the whole time! This scene could have occurred in my own kitchen – alas!! The video is just priceless. What a wonder is that little bird, doing its woodcock rock.
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Woodcock rock! ha!
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