jianantonic | Not a Euphemism

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.