Yesterday a strange thing happened. While walking the dogs we heard a very LOUD explosion that made even Flora jump. As we came around the corner to our street, my neighbor yelled that all the power was out. Apparently a squirrel had chewed through a electrical line, causing the transformer to explode, which knocked out all the electricity on the street (as well as quickly ending it's own life). I feel bad for the poor squirrel, who at that moment lay dead on my neighbor's driveway.
While waiting for the power company crews to come fix the transformer, I was struck with how dependent we are on things like electricity and plumbing. One squirrel mistake and it's death to an innocent squirrel, and no computer, internet, blogging, wireless phones, refrigerator, fans, lights for us. It's weird how precarious all this modern convenience really is. We think we're so far away from wildness, and yet it's always close by.
And then the power was up and the incident was quickly forgotten. Well, except for the squirrel part, may he rest in peace.
The image above is Squirrel in a Squall by Charles Harper.
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