One of the things I enjoy most in a day, is the end of it, being the end of the day is my meaning. Not that there isn’t plenty of enjoyment in living, there is no negative meaning implied here.
For my usual nightly ritual, before taking my tso time, I sit out front of my abode, sometimes with the young ones, sometimes not, if they are otherwise preoccupied with friends and games. Sometimes, depending upon the heat index, the lady will come and sit with me for awhile.
Then you wait, and watch. Nature is astounding often times, taking their que from Amun Ra, as he rides his chariot into the nether realms of slumber. Swallows, geese, a meadowlark, a red-winged blackbird, the occassional furry mammalian peeking out.
This has been a particularly good week for wildlife. So far, and it’s only Wednesday, I’ve been met by an emerald hummingbird, a ruby throated humming bird, a small family of five groundhogs, a black tiger squirrel, a ladderback woodpecker, a half dozen downy woodpeckers, two fawns, a mated couple of Thompson’s Redtail hawks, who allowed me to get inordinately close and a king fisher … this has definitely been a good week.
Last night was even better.
I was on the stoop, chugging some mud, and the clicks and light whispers of the bats were coming and going. Amazingly agile creatures, a real joy to observe. They are engaged in their arial insect catching acrobatics, and a shade of movement is seen across the street, a nighttime thief, the odiferous opposum.
My mind and breathing are settling into the ritual as always, as the attempt is recognized that the internal must synchronize with the external theatre before me. As if in an induced stupor, my cognition of the world around me is aroused lightly, and a message starts to form in thought.
“A very small pair of hands is tugging at your pant leg bonehead, why don’t you check and see who it is?”
Careful not to jerk or convulse at the sudden realisation, my eyes travel easily towards the anterior of my person, and are met by a pair of sparkling brown eyes behind a mask. The tugging continues. A smile nearly splits my head in half, I am completely amused.
Not caring to startle my visitor, my steps are cautiously slow and subtle, and eventually we are face to face. Sensing no real apprehension, I descend to a seated position, mug of steaming mud in hand. The small creature, obviously as entertained by me as I am by him/her, shows no signs of needing to leave, and waits for me to appear comfortable.
We are intently watching one another, purely curious and amazed by the alternate being. I am honored with a number of sniffs and many, many little hand pats. Across my legs, my arms, even as high up as the little one could reach on my chest. Suddenly, the little one discovers the odor of the mud, and comes to the other side to investigate.
I was only mildly offended that a harsh nose was turned up at my beverage, I make a rather fabulous brew. We lock eyes and look intently at one another, and suddenly the Dreaming Butterfly of Quanzi becomes real.
After a space of about fifteen minutes, the young raccoon decides it is time to head over to the family. He/she looks back on last time, measures me up, and off into the darkness for foraging.
I bet I spent at least the next hour chuckling and giggling to myself like a child. Best entertainment I’ve had in a long time, and cost free.
Strange little being … well, one of us most certainly is …
