There will no sleep for a while since the raccoons returned.
Every year in the winter, the raccoons go into what is called a mini-hibernation. It lasts several weeks depending on how frigid the days are. They pop in for a bit of kibbles but we often won't see them. And, I get some long-awaited rest.
Then, once again in the spring, they disappear during mating season and baby season.
However, again, when spring lays winter to waste and when the sun crests earlier and earlier, the raccoons come a-knockin'.
I've been feeding them since I moved to the island, 27+ years ago. It started with me putting food out under the tree and sort of grew.
Then, one dark night years ago, I spotted one up on the eave of the bedroom window. What else could I do but put a few kitty kibbles out. The raccoon snapped those in no time.
Next night? The raccoon brought a friend! Then I knew the word was out when the friend brought another friend.
The rest, as they say, is history. Now, we have no few than twenty-five crunching creatures at the window.
Last night, however, when I threw out a second helping, they didn't want it. Instead, they wanted to engage me. They do this sometimes. They're curious creatures.
Knock, knock, knock.
I roll over look at them through the glass and say, Stop it.
Knock, knock, knock.
Stop it. And I knock at them to make them stop. They scurry back a few inches. I lay back down.
Knock, knock, knock.
I crank open the window. "Go away."
This really makes them scatter, the window cranking open, that is.
But soon they're back.
I give up, roll over and cover my head with a pillow.
Then the squeaking begins.
They take their dirty, slimy little fingers and drag them down the window.
My eyes open, darkness all around, Joey asleep in his doggy bed next to me, the cats at the foot of the bed each at an opposite side...
...the squeaking continues.
It's my own fault. I started it, like ten years ago.
18 I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” 19 For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? ~Ecclesiastes 3
I hope you enjoy my insanities. Someone should.
God bless you all.