So I leave the doors and windows wide open to the world while the plants, Pooch, and I embrace the breeze flowing through our kitchen. I hear the sounds of the park like they're coming from the other room; I listen to my neighbor's choice of television programming; I lie beneath a down comforter joyously listening to summer.
Tonight, my ears perked at what sounded like a neighbor repeatedly throwing out large buckets of water. After 20 or so bucket tosses, I explored the unexpected midnight sounds. To my surprise, I found a raccoon on my neighbor's back porch. Rocky had discovered the kids' blow up swimming pool; it quickly became a raccoon oasis.
Though full grown, the next few minutes hinted toward Rocky Jr. The masked juvenile looked up with curiosity as I stepped out my back door, but quickly crossed me off as a threat. Only 20 seconds later, she enthusiastically renewed her antics, and I then got to witness some of the silliest raccoon behavior ever.
At first, the pool was a drinking fountain. Then, it become a sponge bath from which she would carefully dip her front limbs while staying on dry land in back, but then she really went for it -- she jumped over the flexible edge where the "bucket tosses" had dripped from and went full spa on it. She swam in circles, splashed around, and carefully cleaned under her arms while laying on her back, feet up in the air. Every so often, she'd look my way as if to ensure her audience was captivated.
After 10 minutes or so, the spa session abruptly ended, and after a quick perimeter search of the garden, she headed off into the world with my blessing. Thank you, Ms. Raccoon. You made my night.
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