Today as I drove to work on autopilot on a busy road a squirrel did that squirrel thing where they rush back and forth in the middle of the roadway trying to decide to go here or there and made the wrong decision. I had slowed and had hoped that he was lucky enough to make it but unfortunately, he did not. My tires turned him into an unintentional speed bump which in turn set the tone of my day, to make matters worse, there were too many cars behind me so I couldn’t stop and move him, I had to leave his little body in the the roadway in arms above my head fashion, on his little back in front of a day care, it was your atypical murder scene.
I love the little boogers, I put feed out for them at home and enjoy watching them scamper about while eating, exploring, and talking with tail taps and high-pitched sounds and some days I talk with them at lunch. Nature has always fascinated me, all of it, little worlds hidden under, on, above, around things filled with secrets and wonder.
Later, as I was sitting on the tailgate of my truck eating lunch, I watched a young smiling teenager about 14 manipulate a skateboard back and forth across the sidewalk from one side to the other over and over and it made me think of the squirrel. This was in an area that has sidewalks for miles, across the street I can see a park, with sidewalks and basketball courts in and around it, but the kid kept hitting the one little section over and over I think because it had a slight incline, back, and forth until he slammed into a tree, then he got up, brushed himself off and skated away, he reminded me of the squirrel. Seems humans and animals are not so different; he was just a little luckier because the vehicles he dodged slammed on brakes to avoid a lawsuit.
It is a beautiful day, sun is shining, it isn’t hot or cold, and it is fairly peaceful out except for the skateboard noise. This is in a downtown area where people are busy going here and there in a rush, always somewhere to be or someone to talk to they never seem to slow down and pay attention, but I do. I sit at lunch in a chair or on my tail gate and enjoy a little of each day waving back at strangers waving as they drive by as though I am on display, also telling coworkers that I am fine, I just like to be outside as they check as though I were being punished.
I watched a hawk hunting overhead, a squirrel digging for something, ants marching to somewhere, heard birds, enjoyed the sun, and drank in a little vitamin D, and scanned the nearby buildings to see what is planted where. Some of the houses are cute cottages, others standard brick, but none have gardens or beds that stand out, they all look alike. Again, I thought of the little squirrel, if this was his home area did he appreciate the uniformity or was he so bored that challenging a moving vehicle was his only thrill?
What do animals think when they watch humans? When I went back in, my little friend, Zoe, came running to say hello. She is a super sweet little dog, always happy and willing to play and on guard at the same time, she ignores some but runs at me with a happy hello demanding belly rubs and pretends to bite. Zoe seems to pick and choose who to play with, who to watch and who to steer clear of, makes you wonder what criteria she uses.
Back inside, I am in my office reviewing records that legally our office must retain for 3 years and as I do, I watch coworkers travel back and forth across the hallway and again I think of the squirrel. Back and forth, front to back, back to front and I wonder how many times a day humans scamper to and fro, just as the little squirrel did on the roadway and again even though people make fun of that squirrel scampering, I see the resemblance. I am bored today with a bad case of spring fever that I can’t do anything about until 4pm.
Seems funny to be a little jealous of a flattened squirrel but he or she was outdoor living his or her little life in the sunshine doing whatever squirrels do until their number is up, and I am stuck indoors doing what humans must do to make a living. I hope this little guy or gal was happy before this morning. So, I ask you which is better? An abbreviated life doing what you were made to do in the sunshine or a long-life working base eights indoors with just a few hours per day to enjoy the sunshine?
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