Scribe-ls

The new yard is a squirrel haven, despite an active 20-pound cat and a tireless Chesapeake Bay retriever.  It could be that the massive elm in the back combined with all the lesser trees in our yard and two adjacent create an irresistably lush urban micro-forest right here in Arvada.  It promises to be a stunningly beautiful summer, for sure.

The squirrel-world is splendid.  As my husband and I sip our coffee or wine we are secret observers of a whole squirrel society via a wall of windows across the back of our house.  They're amazing little creatures, really.   Their industry in gathering food and nesting materials is upstaged only by their exuberance in life.  Oh, for sure, some of the behavior is mating or territory related, yet I've never seen squirrels actually hurt each other.  Even territory, once established, seems to be an informal point.  There aren't outcasts among squirrels.  The brawny brute who chased the scrawny upstart from the elm to the crabapple this morning will surely be playing a fine game of round-the-elm with him this afternoon. 

Why, the squirrels seem even to enjoy the aforementioned cat and dog, as well as their less robust senior counterparts.  It could be anthropomorphism on my part, but I would place money on it that there are times when one or the other of the bushy-tailed imps performs elaborate antics to attract the notice of the household pets.  A little golden-belly will sit atop the peak of the neighbor's shed, stare into the back of the house, run across the chain link about 5 yards, sit, switch the tail about a bit, and run back to the shed over and over until one or all the pets are enticed to go out and give a bit of harmless chase.  At that point the little rascal zips under their very noses across the yard and up the elm, just out of reach.  The play provides hours of entertainment for the Chessie.  The three others become bored after a half hour or so, but the Chessie will wear herself stupid 'playing squirrel.'

Funny, though, I often find myself reflecting that there are many squirrel-like people:  good natured, fun-loving and simply happy with being.  We need more of those, myself included.