Old Timer

Chapter Twenty-one

As the cold grasp of winter gave way to the first hints of Spring I sensed that a drought was lurking. Clouds filled the sky, but they brought no rain. The earth seemed to be saying, “Remember me. I am the one who gives you everything you need.” I had the feeling that we were in for a withholding from nature.

The summer brought a dreary landscape. April showers never came and our pear trees yielded no white blossoms. The ground hogs explored the ground beneath the pear trees, but there was no fruit to be found.   

Drought conditions often meant that surprise visitors showed up in the yard. In June of 1997, an old and debilitated squirrel began visiting our yard. Red, inflamed skin covered the squirrel’s head and ears. He peered out from eyes that were covered in a musty veil. I wondered how he was still alive. The frail and blind squirrel had been guided to my yard in his search for food and water.

 

                
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I began to build rapport with the elder squirrel, and I named him Old Timer. He had an unusually trusting disposition. When I threw out nuts for the animals, Old Timer had a very hard time seeing where the food landed. When I called his name, he would come to me and allow me to place the food right under his nose.

One afternoon I was pulling into our long driveway, and I saw a squirrel perched at the edge of the pavement. Standing on his hind legs and, squinting at my car, Old Timer patiently waited for me to park my car. As I got out of my car, he followed me to the carport where he eagerly waited for me to throw him some nuts.

When Old Timer could not locate me in the yard, he would resort to coming around to the sliding glass door in the living room. I often found him sitting on the ledge and straining to see into the house. Old Timer looked so sad as he sat peering into our living room. I dashed out to the carport and scooped up some seeds for him.

The miserable summer crept along. On the days when there was severe heat, I put out water all day for the birds and animals. I had little hope that Old Timer could survive these sweltering summer afternoons. Like all the other animals, he frequented the birdbaths for water.

By July, Old Timer started disappearing for days at a time. The long drought and heat wave were taking their toll on even the healthiest animals. Surely Old Timer had succumbed to this dangerous heat. As I searched the yard for signs of Old Timer, I was convinced that I would never see him again. Just when I had given up, Old Timer would surprise me and come for food when I called his name.

I never knew how Old Timer survived. Where did he go to sleep at night? How had he avoided predators when he seemed to be earth bound and unable to climb up a tree?

It was late August when we were blessed with refreshing rains. The rain felt so exhilarating and life giving after the long period of heat. All of nature was celebrating in this great oasis.

During the drought, all the animals had retreated into inactivity during the day. Now my yard was alive with birds singing, and the squirrels chasing one another and playing.

The day after we received the rain the air was cooler, and there was an invigorating breeze. I was looking at the back yard, and I saw what I thought was Old Timer climbing to the top of the oak tree. I ran outside and was shocked to see that Old Timer was undertaking this great adventure.

I nervously stood and watched as the old squirrel diligently made his way up to the top of the tree. As he climbed higher and higher, I feared that he would slip and fall to his death.

But Old Timer was not intimidated. He continued his climb, until he made it to the top of the tree. The tree limb beckoned to him, and he slowly climbed out to the edge of the limb. Old Timer looked so proud as he sat in his tree top perch. He took a few moments to look around the yard and remember his old way of life. After a brief recuperation, he carefully made his way back down the long tree trunk. He strutted away from the tree, and acted as though there really had been nothing to it.

The day after Old Timer’s great climb was a beautiful summer day. Late in the morning, I put out some squirrel treat. Several squirrels, including Old Timer, came to eat under the maple tree. Black Matriarch Squirrel showed up and she wasted no time taking command of the pile of squirrel treats.

Suddenly Black Matriarch Squirrel chased Old Timer away from the food area. Running as fast as his old limbs could carry him, Old Timer tried to stay ahead of Black Matriarch Squirrel. But she was over taking Old Timer’s slow pace. My last memory of Old Timer was seeing him be chased around the back of the old pony barn, with Black Matriarch Squirrel ready to pounce him. He disappeared behind the barn.

That was the last I was ever to see of my friend Old Timer.

As I had watched Old Timer climb the tree the day before, I knew he was filled with great courage and determination. He climbed that tree with a conviction that seemed to say, “I am going to make it to the top of this tree, even if it kills me!”

As the days passed, Old Timer never returned. I grieved and I missed seeing the old guy. I felt that his final wish had been granted.