Fat Bottomed Squirrels
Squirrels have always been a nuisance to my father. He would see squirrels nibbling on the fruit of his trees. My father would bark and squawk until the squirrels scampered off. He was always willing to share the bounty. If only the squirrels would finish what they started; instead of taking a few bites from each fruit and then moving on to the next. The mangoes and avocados which grew in our backyard were always lightly chewed. My father never had a squirrel friend.
The trees are different here in Louisville. I do not recognize them. I peer through the window and see a local squirrel. He is heavier than the ones from my past and I watch him closely as he hops from the fence to the trash bin, and then straight up a tree trunk. He is surprisingly spry for having such a plump bottom.
I suppose the squirrels in these parts load up in the fall and add a few extra pounds to prepare for the winter. I am certain he has been stashing acorns for the coming months around the neighborhood .
I pour some honey into a cup of tea and begin to stir when a furry blur catches my eye through the kitchen window. I see my new squirrel friend hop on the window ledge and start to nibble on something. His back is turned and I can’t see what it is. I imagine he is rotating some kind of nut and nibbling his way around it.
I have not seen any mangoes around these parts, so I am intrigued by his diet. I take a few steps towards the window to get a better view but I move too quickly and startle him. He drops his morning treat and disappears into the trees. Upon inspection, I see a lasagna noodle curled on the ledge. I think this is odd and step outside to remove the food and notice that the next window over has a some leftover fried chicken on the ledge. Is this Louisville squirrel living on a diet of lasagna and Kentucky Fried Chicken? This would explain my furry friend’s shape.
I’ve since noticed some odd food items around the exterior of my home: a water cracker on the window ledge and a Dorito chip neatly placed on the corner of my mail box. I also noticed that the garbage carts have holes chewed through the lids so the squirrels can get in and out swiftly.
Nature offers us gifts. Sometimes they are gifts in the form of entertainment. We need only be open to the details around us in order to enjoy them. I contemplated cleaning up after my squirrel friend but I have learned that he will always return and clean up after himself. It may take a few days but he will get to it. Some may consider this a nuisance but I consider it a gift. A simple reminder that fat bottomed squirrels need love too. Happy Birthday from Lou to me.
