One of the hardest parts of living is losing the ones we love. And this isn't just true in the human world, it's also true in the animal kingdom as well.
For years, Blossom and Bud were inseparable, enjoying life together on the pond at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown, Iowa. But last August, their love story took a tragic turn, when Bud died. Blossom was devastated.
Lonely and heartbroken, she would spend hours staring forlornly at her reflection in the cemetery office window or the model tombstone just outside. She ignored all of the other geese and ducks, isolated in her grief.
But that all changed when her caretaker, general manager Dorie Tammen, came up with a wild plan to give Blossom a second chance at love.
Wanted: Life Partner for "Lonely, Widowed Domestic Goose" Facebook Ad
For months, Dorie watched Blossom grieve the loss of Bud, becoming a shadow of her formerly cheery self. It was heartbreaking.
"It was clear that she was lonely and she needed a partner," Tammen told CBC. So, she set about finding one, starting with posting a "single and ready to mingle" ad on the cemetery's Facebook page.
After all, drastic times call for drastic measures.
The ad read: "Lonely, widowed domestic goose seeks life partner for companionship and occasional shenanigans. Come share life with me at Riverside Cemetery, where you'll enjoy swimming in the lovely lake, good food, numerous friends, and peeking in the door of the office building at the strange but kind humans there, who feed us lots of goodies."
She continued, "I'm youthful, adventurous and lively, and I've been told I'm beautiful."
Sounds like quite the catch! Frankie the gander agreed. Or, at least, his owner, Deb Hoyt, who runs a horse rescue farm in nearby Runnells, Iowa, did.
Frankie had a lot in common with Blossom (besides the fact that he was also a domestic goose.) He too was grieving, having recently lost his own lifelong mate, Gretel. Hoyt thought the two sounded like a match made in goose heaven. She answered the ad and she and Tammen set up a "first date" on Valentine's Day.
How a Grieving Goose and Gander Found Love Again
Unfortunately, it wasn't love at first sight. "It did not go well at all," Hoyt said.
Frankie, stressed from the car ride, wasn't in the mood for love. He flew the coop, high-tailing it across the pond, and wasn't seen again for the rest of the day.
Thankfully, he managed to get his act together and returned to the cemetery the next day for take two. Turns out, the second time's the charm.
Love blossomed.
Today, according to periodic updates on the lovebirds on the cemetery's Facebook page, the two only have eyes for each other. They never leave each other's sides. They enjoy strolling together, swimming together and hanging out with fellow feathered friends.
With a little help from their human friends and a Facebook ad, Blossom and Frankie no longer have to walk the earth alone. Together they have found the companionship and love that they have been missing, and with it, they have found happiness once again.
And as Hoyt put it, "That second chance at love was pretty awesome."
Awesome, indeed.
KEEP READING: Family Dog Keeps Daughters Safe After They Were Stranded and Lost in Woods
right human eye
Photo by 
person holding box
Photo by 
