There’s a moment in *Gilmore Girls* that never fails to surprise me: Jess, the brooding rebel, gets attacked by a swan. A swan. Of all the things. It’s the kind of scene that makes you pause mid-laugh because, honestly, who ever imagines a swan attack as a plot twist? If anything, it should have been a goose—those guys are the real terror of the avian world. But no, they went with a swan, and for that, I salute them. Because now I’m forever wary of those “graceful” creatures.

So, naturally, this swan debacle sent me down a rabbit hole. I stumbled upon the word *anatidaephobia*, which I now know is the fear of being watched by a duck. Yes, a duck. And, surprise, it turns out it was coined by none other than Gary Larson of *The Far Side* fame. Now, I love words. I have a small collection of obscure terms that I toss into conversation just to watch people blink in confusion. But *anatidaephobia*? This one takes the cake, not because it’s a real condition, but because it isn’t. Larson made it up! And yet, I found an utterly sincere, medically reviewed video on a website explaining that, even though the phobia isn’t “real,” you can still be afraid of ducks. The world is truly a wild, wonderful place.

And here’s the kicker—ducks have always been a part of my life. I used to buy the most absurd collection of rubber duckies for my son when he was younger. There were pirate ducks, superhero ducks, even one with a tiny crown. Bath time was a royal affair, complete with a yellow flotilla of quacking companions. I was never afraid of them. In fact, I adored those little guys. But now, thanks to *The Far Side* and some earnest medical reviewers, I’m side-eyeing those rubber ducks and wondering if there’s a *real* reason I kept my distance from the pond.

Nostalgia hits in the oddest ways, doesn’t it? One minute you’re laughing at a swan attack on TV, and the next, you’re reminiscing about your son’s bath toys while pondering the existential dread of being stalked by waterfowl. It’s funny how something like a made-up phobia, or a rubber duck, can stir up a whirlpool of memories. And maybe that’s the beauty of these strange moments—they remind us that life, whether it’s ducks or swans, is best approached with a sense of humor.

Because really, who wants to live in fear of a duck watching them from the shadows?