American Idol Jason Castro is not the only famous Aggie around here. Apparently, Sam the goose is an Aggie, too.

Rowlett artist Laurieann Dygowski contacted Neighborsgo today with a tale that’ll stop you in your tracks, since she herself may be “Mother Goose.”

But let’s get our ducks in a row, first, shall we?

If you’re not familiar with Keeley Elementary’s web-footed crossing guard, you’ll want to dive into this neighborsgo story before reading any further. You’ll also want to take a gander at this neighborsgo video.

And then, as Laurieann tells it, here’s “the rest of the story”:

“In 1992 I bought my first baby goose, and from there and numerous ducks and geese later, I have raised about 75 birds in all. Jeff Sheldon and I raise them for eggs and they are all our pets, with each one having a name and a distinct personality,” Laurieann writes.

“That first baby goose was named "Aggie" after the feed store I bought him from. He was a very intelligent goose, and grew into a beautiful bird. He got along with people so well, and friends were amazed that they could sit down on the ground and Aggie would "climb" into their lap and while "talking goose" to them. He loved to be stroked and petted. He also loved little people -  children. I will always remember how he walked along side my small grandson, then two years old, and for every step my grandson took, Aggie would walk take steps along side him. He was more of a people goose than he was a goose.”

“In the fall of 1994, a storm quickly came up, with high winds and heavy rain, along with lots of lightning. I was in Dallas at the time, but when I got home, I could not find Aggie. I called, and walked along Liberty Grove, down Merritt Road and called for him. I did this for days in an effort to find him. I hoped some day I would see him again, but only hoped he was safe and had found a new home.”

“This last Sunday, I took a walk around the Waterview pond, and saw this large goose honking. I called to him, and he immediately came over to me, while I was sitting down on the ground. He let me pet him; he talked to me in his goose language, and would run after me when I moved around the pond. I told my partner, Jeff Sheldon, I thought he might be Aggie, so I went again to the pond, yesterday, Monday, and he came over to me and "stood" on my legs as I sat on the ground. He wanted to really sit on my lap, was a little nervous, but would not leave my side. I snapped some pictures to take home with me.”

“After talking with some people at the park yesterday and Sunday, I learned that "Sam" was famous, and had stories written in the paper on how he walks children across the street when they go to school. I was excited that this bird might be Aggie, but didn't want my excitement to take over what is really fact, so I went home yesterday evening and looked up the old photos of Aggie that I had taken many years ago with my grandson and my daughter feeding him in the backyard,” Laurieann went on.

“There was no doubt this was the same bird. Even though their knobs change shape as they grow older, I could see that the division of brown and white feathers, that runs from his beak area to the back of his neck, matched the photos I had taken of Sam at Waterview. And that wasn't the only confirmation. Each goose has a distinct voice or honk, just like people. I remembered his honk. There was no doubt, my voice was imprinted on him, since I raised him from a very small gosling.”

“I went back early this morning, and he was doing his job of walking children across the street. I was amazed and fascinated, and even a little proud. When he saw me, he came over to me again, sat with me, while I had a conversation with the crossing guard, Joan Maddux. I snapped more photos of him walking with the children across the street.”

Laurieann goes on to explain that geese live to be thirty years old.

“I still don't know how long he's been at Waterview, and have no idea how he ended up there. I'm only happy he's still alive and making others happy with just being a goose.”