There Are No Ducks Involved

A misheard lyric, a very strange art project, and the one person who loved it

The other day I was FaceTiming my grandson, Landon, and showed him a miniature I’d made: The Cannibal King.

Now, this goes back a bit.

When I was little, my mother used to sing a camp song about a cannibal king. Only—I got the lyrics wrong. Spectacularly wrong.

I thought she was singing:
“Fell in love with a ducky ding.”

A ducky. Ding.

I don’t know what a ducky ding is, and frankly, I’m not convinced anyone does.

But I believed it. For years.

Fast forward to now: I see an online miniaturist challenge. The rules? Use a toilet paper roll, recycled plastic, and a feather.

Naturally, I thought: Ah yes. Cannibal king.

As one does.

So I went all in. Paper clay, corks, bamboo skewers, beads, twigs, silk flowers, a scrap of fabric, and—because every project needs a little drama—the head of a plastic Halloween skeleton.

I sat back and thought, “Well, that’s delightfully unhinged. Nicely done.”

I posted it in the group.

And then I waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Nothing.

Not a like. Not a “cute!” Not even a pity emoji.

It was as if my Cannibal King had been quietly escorted out of the building.

But then I showed it to Landon, who just turned four.

His face lit up.

“I want that!” he said.

And just like that—vindication.

My husband has a saying from the piano business:
There’s a butt for every bench.

In other words, not everything you make is going to land with everyone. Some people will scroll right past your ducky ding.

But someone—somewhere—is going to love it.

Art isn’t about universal approval. It’s about connection. It’s about that one person who sees what you made and says, “Yes. That. I need that in my life.”

Even if that person is three years old and currently negotiating for snacks.

Oh—and in case you’re wondering?

The actual lyric is:
“Fell in love with a sweet young maid.”

There are no ducks involved.

None.

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Mystery Monday Tonight!

Tonight’s guest at Mystery Mondays is Linda Reilly. Join us at 7 p.m. ET at Joanna’s Readers.

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Discount on an Audiobook

Here’s an early Christmas present! It’s a great opportunity to load up on my audiobook, Slay, Bells, Ring. (Why not put it in your “gift” closet and give it to yourself!)

https://www.audiobooks.com/promotions/promotedBook/865085/slay-bells-ring?refId=249389

Lots of love and Ducky Dings,

Joanna