2004 July 3. One July morning in 2003, I walked out onto our West Seattle front porch to find out what all the rustling noises were. Across the fence in the neighbor's yard, I could see the swaying branches in their cherry tree. As I watched, I saw this sumo-proportioned raccoon struggling out the branches in search of the ripest cherries. I wasn't sure whether the raccoon would win or the branch would give way and deposit her largeness on the neighbor's lawn.
This year, as our oldest son, Doug, was visiting, I was called to the back yard of our house to see who was visiting our cherry tree. This little fellow was learning how to work the cherry crop while keeping a wary eye on the curious human below. We left the timidly-determined character alone to feast in solitude.
Although West Seattle is a mature neighborhood in the vicinity of the original European settlement at Alki point and the Native American settlements before them, there are now tree-lined streets, park lands, and natural areas strewn among the semi-urban constructions of the past century. It is easy to forget that we are plopped down on Nature's territory and her creatures have not vanished, merely accomodated themselves to the disruptions of the unruly newcomers. It's true for the squirrels and crows, it might as well be for larger folk. Sometimes, in the quiet of the day, I will observe one of the landlord's creatures on some furtive errand. And then there are these brazen fellows to remind us that we don't really own the place and it would be good if we took better care of it while we're the major tenants.
This event occured after I had just upgraded to a long macro lens and a better flash unit, although I am not now and was not then practiced with it. I haven't given up on film, but I have started obtaining CD-ROMs instead of prints.
posted by orcmid
at 9/12/2004 05:37:54 PM
