The Story of How I Touched a Squirrel

Pre-College Topics High School Life
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<p>Here's an essay I just finished. Sorry for not documenting sources in proper MLA format.</p>

<p>The Story of How I Touched a Squirrel
-by Orange Juice</p>

<p>Squirrels are beautiful rodents with large fluffy tails. I know because I did a research project on them in 3rd grade. They are also one of the hardest to catch creatures on this planet. That's not a fact, but I think its probably true.</p>

<p>One of my life long dreams has been to catch a squirrel and just hold it in my hand (while it bites the daylights out of me I'm sure). Especially after seeing the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, because those squirrels looked awesome. To poorly quote some stand up comedian: "I want to catch a squirrel so badly my heart hurts."</p>

<p>Fortunately, Lehigh has an abundance of squirrels, and they are used to people so you can get fairly close to them before they run away. Several times a day, all year, I have tried to catch them, but even though I get within inches I always missed. I chased one on my bike, and kept pace for a while, but had no way of grabbing him before he got to a tree. I cornered one in a stair case, but he managed to leap out of the way just before I grabbed him. I hit one with a frisbee, but that wasn't satisfying at all, because really I just wanted to be able to hold one.</p>

<p>Well the other day, I took a huge step forward. I was walking up to my dorm, and theres a little patch of woods next to the steps. I saw one squirrel sitting near by, and I lunged, but he escaped daftly (I don't know if that word fits this context or not....I'm too lazy to thesaurus it)...after that squirrel ran away, I noticed a slight rustling in the leaves a few feet away. There was another squirrel, searching for a nut I'm sure, but he was buried beneath the leaves so he couldn't see me coming (must have been some nut!). I could see his fluffy little tail poking out, and I got really excited and lunged for him. He instantly leaped about 3 feet in the air (and I'm not exagerating...at least not on purpose) did a piroutte and ran off. But the important point is: I touched that little bugger! I had a clear grab at his tail, and managed to hold on for a second. Even though I didn't get to hold him in my arms and pet him like a puppy, it was still everything I dreamed it would be. I honestly began giggling and jumping up and down to finally have partially completed this task. And that was a really good move, because there was some other guy coming up the steps staring at me (I'm sure I dazzled him with such a great first impression). Anyway, I'm getting pretty excited again just writing about this little encounter, so I'm gonna have to stop and calm down so I can get some sleep tonight. But the point of the story is, it is indeed possible to touch a squirrel, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.</p>

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<p>lol. That story is so you.</p>

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<p>That is so cool. I used to be the one chasing squirrels at the State Capitol Museum in Sacramento, CA, when I was four years old. I got in trouble with the security guards though. Hahaha.</p>

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<p>I used to chase birds around and would entice them with crackers until I got nailed once and crapped on.</p>

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<p>A squirrel came up to me when I had peanuts in my hand.</p>

<p>I remember there was a squirrel that was in a bush and I touched it's tail and I screamed.</p>

<p>I must've been six or seven. :)</p>

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<p>i thought you were a sophmore in high school Orange Juice :confused:
Anways, Congratulations on accomplishing your life long dream :)</p>

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<p>I used to catch bumblebees. I was a dumb kid.</p>

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<p>im staying on my uncle's dorm. spring breakaaaaa!</p>

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<p>LOL!</p>

<p>There's so many squirrels at Lehigh.... and i was surprised with how they didn't seem afraid.. i walked around thinking, 'even east coast squirrels are different!'</p>

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<p>Ooh! I used to catch honey bees when I was little. They all used to go on this one type of flower. Once I got stung, I stopped doing it forever. :)</p>

<p>Although I've still been stung since them. (Mowing the lawn, trying to knock down nests, etc).</p>

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<p>Jonathan K.-
You need special beekeeping equipment if you really want to get into the field of honeybee collecting and harvesting (ie stunners, a protection suit)</p>

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<p>i need some sweets</p>

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<p>drink more juice......it will get you stronger lol :)</p>

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<p>drink... um... lactic acid.</p>

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<p>Ya know that whole pirouette part? At my old house we had a squirrel who would do cartwheels on the tree branches, there was also a bald squirrel.</p>

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<p>"Jonathan K.-
You need special beekeeping equipment if you really want to get into the field of honeybee collecting and harvesting (ie stunners, a protection suit)"</p>

<p>After I got stung, I wanted to buy special bee keeping equipment, but my mom refused she thought it was too much money to spend hundreds of dollars of bee equipment for a seven year old. So I just stuck with nets. :)</p>

<p>I have since abandoned my bee keeping passion. :(</p>

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<p>We had a pygmy goat that thought it was a dog. It chased cars, slept on the porch, and followed me when I ran. It died fighting a rabid rottweiler.</p>

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<p>I have never been stung by a bee. I seriously swat them (I make freaking physical contact... yay! physical contact!) when they buzz me, but they never sting me. It's really weird.</p>

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<p>You must not smell very sweet.</p>

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<p>You catch more flies with vinegar than with honey ;)</p>