Squirrelobatics

We spend a fortune being amused.  There are movies we go to, television shows that we watch plus many other events that collectively we spend millions on yearly.  There are however, a few amusing things that are free. 

One of the free amusing happenings; is to observe a squirrel with a bird feeder.  This combination results in kinds of acrobatics usually limited to the famous European circus, “Cirque De Soleil”, or one of the Ringling Bros. high wire acts.

Our bird feeder is about ten feet off the ground at the top of an aluminum pole. One day I watched a squirrel attempt to climb the metal pole and witnessed optimism at its most extreme combined with stubborn efforts few humans are capable of. 

I watched our very determined squirrel attempt to climb that pole at least fifty times each time ending up in an astonishing somersaulting back flip only to get up again shake it’s tail and leap once more at the slippery pole. 

After about fifteen minutes of this effort the squirrel sat up on it’s haunches and appeared to be squinting first at the feeder and then at the roof  about ten feet above the feeder. 

After a few minutes of what appeared to be careful study the squirrel then ran across the lawn, climbed the tree next to the house and scurried up to the very top branch.  It hesitated there for but hardly a moment and then in a mighty leap it sailed out about twenty feet over the lawn and landed on the roof.  It sat up there snapping its tail and chattering. It then scampered quickly down to the edge of the roof that jutted just above the bird feeder. It stopped here and scolded in its chattering way at the birds on the feeder. 

Then it backed up the roof a few feet, stopped and looked around before running back down to the edge of the roof and sailing out into the air like a crazed furry bird it landed right in the middle of the feeder scattering birds, seeds and feathers, all over the yard... 

            I’ve laughed at Victor Borge, Bob Hope, Robin Williams and others, and witnessed many amusing incidents but few can match the hilarity of that squirrel landing in our bird feeder. I had been amused for over a half an hour and it had cost nothing but a few handfuls of bird seeds.

            It is really true the best things in life are free!