Every year, it's the same thing. Our long and tiring march. 

The best part is that I can usually catch up with long-lost friends. 

This year was no different.

I was so happy to see Julie. 

I flapped my flipper and yelled, "Hey, Julie. Over here. It’s Paula."

She saw me, and she and her young one waddled over to see me and my young chick.

She wrapped her flippers around me and asked, "So nice to see you, Paula. Seems like forever since we talked. How is the young one doing? Do you think he is ready for the march?"

I replied, "I sure hope he is ready, you know how hard it is for the young ones. Do you think yours is up to the task?"

Julie replied, "I think so. I would hate to lose another young one like I did just a few years ago."

Squawk squawk. 

I said, "That must be Charlie telling us to line up and start our march. You want to waddle together this year, Julie?"

Julie replied, "I would love to waddle with you, and we can look out for each other's chicks."

Squawk squawk. 

Julie said that must be Earl yelling for me. "Let's go find him and Charlie, and the four of us can waddle together."

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Two weeks into our march, and the weather has taken a turn for the worse. Snow is almost blinding us all, and temperatures are extremely cold. The young ones are keeping up, much to our delight.

We must make it to our summer home. We will find food and water, and it will be time for our young ones to go and find themselves a mate.

Charlie yells out, "Careful. Look to your right, I see the fin of a great white out there. No swimming today."

We are almost at our summer home. I can smell it in the air. The young are no worse for wear, and they will make it.

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We all waddled into our summer nesting home, and we broke out into groups, warning all the chicks of the danger that lurks in the ocean.

We told them about sharks, mean ole seals, and walruses. 

This was a short time for celebration before we began our trip back.

This year's march was a success. I hope all our future marches end up the same. 

My pedes sure could use a good massage. I'll soak them in the ocean and dream of my dinner. 

I waddled with Julie over to the ocean, and we soaked our pedes and made a promise to waddle back home together this year.