Not a Euphemism

[jianantonic]

I touched a squirrel for the first time today! I'm definitely over-excited about this, but for a girl who grew up in a neighborhood called Squirrel Ridge, it was a special moment. I definitely chased my share of squirrels as a kid, and I totally believed that if I was nice to them and sang a little bit and held out my hands, they'd warm up to me and come be my friends just like in all those Disney movies. (Disney lies.)

McKenzie and I hiked up to the top of Spencer Butte in Eugene this morning, and at the top, I noticed a squirrel. A really fat one. Someone had spilled quite a pile of sunflower seeds on the ground, and this squirrel was making his or her way to the mother lode. We made eye contact, and I noticed that the rodent seemed rather at peace with the idea of sharing space with me, so I inched closer. I didn't sing, but I totally did the Disney princess hand reach thing, and when s/he didn't back away, I went for it.

Now I know, because I was raised a country girl, that any wild animal that isn't fucking petrified of humans probably has rabies, so even though I was all about making friends, I wasn't going to push my luck. I stroked his or her back for a while while s/he munched on some sunflower seeds, and that was enough of a thrill that I've been seriously giddy about it all day.

Simple pleasures, y'all.

Comments

[istar.livejournal.com]

Awwwww!

[waitingonsunday.livejournal.com]

That would absolutely make my day. My boyfriend and his mother started feeding some neighborhood squirrels last year and they were to the point where they didn't immediately flee when they saw us coming, they'd stop to see if we were going to hold out food. They'd reach out to take nuts straight out of our hands and there was something very sweet about having that level of trust.

[camlost.livejournal.com]

Be careful, that's what killed grandma.

[jianantonic.livejournal.com]

:)

[deepseasiren.livejournal.com]

Sweet. I think that was one happy squirrel :))

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it didn't have rabies! Or bubonic plague! :-D