Relatively Minor
Laughter does not have to come from a major source. It could indeed be ... relatively minor.
My usual morning routine involves sitting on the back deck of my home in Winterset, sipping coffee while my dogs roam the yard and play among the trees. Today, the cool fall temperatures made me appreciate life even more. I decided to meditate, closing my eyes to fully enjoy the beautiful symphony of birds singing to each other. It was a heavenly start to the day until the sound of a squirrel’s complaints shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
The squirrel’s discontent immediately put my dogs on high alert and disrupted the tranquility of my morning retreat. Barking incessantly, they charged the fence in search of the potential intruder. Finding no such animal, they eventually settled down and returned to roaming the landscape and sniffing around.
I left my comfortable seat in the great outdoors to grab a second cup of coffee, only to come back and witness the intriguing world of squirrel melodrama. When I experience a dilemma, I keep things under wraps, not wanting to drag anyone else into my soap opera. Squirrels, however, are a different breed. Unabashed and very vocal, they’re ready to mount the nearest branch and broadcast their complaints to the world, no holds barred.
As a result, I wondered what could be bothering the little critter. So there I was, having a heart-to-heart with a squirrel who started its day on the wrong side of the branch. He narrowly escaped becoming roadkill in a mad dash across the street for a breakfast buffet. Then he busted a toenail, fleeing from the world’s most determined house cat. But wait, there’s more. He also did his best tightrope walker impression on a telephone wire, nearly joining the circus in the sky. And to top it off, his memory is worse than mine. For the second week in a row, he’s misplaced his nuts.
As I hurried out the front door to head to work, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the little guy. And just as I stepped outside amidst the morning hustle, I couldn’t help but chuckle as I heard the all-too-familiar sound of a squirrel voicing its grievances.
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Love this, same thing in y backyard