Nature’s Cirque du Soleil                                                         

 

When I awake each morning my slowly opening eyes scan the nearby woods in hopes of seeing a wondering creature.  Is there a deer?  A turkey?  Wow, how about a black bear?

 

None of those are wondering through today.  Instead, in the thirty-five foot maple tree that stands outside my bedroom window has become my own Circus de Soule.  Now picture this tree that has dropped its bright golden leaves to uncover a maze of branches.   Vertical, diagonal, horizontal, every which way you can imagine these branches intertwine.  And in the center of this web is a lone squirrel.  Once having had a squirrel as a pet, I have a special fondness for all squirrels.  But the antics of this particular squirrel seemed choreographed especially for me.  It runs from branch to branch.  Then with out any hesitation dives straight down, as many as ten feet at a time.  Landing safely, it scurries back to the top only to perform a similar antic.  Occasionally he’ll pause as if pondering the next feat.  Sometimes during the pause he appears to stare in my direction making sure I’m watching.  Is he really entertaining me?  Can he sense or see in my eyes the wonder of his feats?  How does he do that?