SCIURUS

If I were to have a totem or an animal spirit, it would be a squirrel.  That is the name my brother gave me when I was little.  The license plate on my truck, supporting our state conservation agency, is rocking a squirrel picture.  When I took the test on www.pottermore to identify my Harry Potter inspired Patronus it was… a squirrel.  I always assumed my brother called me “squirrel” because I was some-how “squirrelier” than other kids, which is probably true.  I would prefer to think that squirrels (Genus name “Sciurus”) have some notable characteristics that I may share aside from “squirreliness”.  Squirrels like to climb trees (me too!).  They are diurnal (day active) (me too!).  They do not hibernate and during severe, cold weather they will remain in their nests (I like to stay in bed on cold days too!).  Squirrels bury nuts for the winter (eh, got me on that one).  Squirrels have two breeding seasons from December – January and again from June to mid-October (no, can’t say that fits me!).  Gestation (development time) lasts about 44 days and a litter contains 3-5 young.  Well, that doesn’t apply to me.  Maybe my squirrel name arises from my inability to run in a straight line.  This can be a benefit for squirrels being hunted by a predator as rapid changes in direction make it harder for a predator to catch them.  This doesn’t work out so well for city squirrels, who can be hit by cars during their moments of indecision/directional changes.  Well, until I determine some more redeeming characteristics of squirrels, I will just have to accept my general level of squirreliness and go on.