Cocktails with The Hersheys
Aboard the Lazy Lucy
The fall is a wonderful time for an evening stroll along the Manteo Marina boardwalk. This particular stroll happily culminated in an invitation to Appletinis and assorted imported cheeses pour moi aboard the Lazy Lucy with Scott and Debbie Hershey (pictured at left). My buddy Carl, the dockmaster, was both bartender and photographer. Docked several berths away was an unusual 1920s-ish sailboat on her way to the Caribbean and captained by a duPont. Life along the waterfront is always interesting.
I must say, I've since tried stopping and staring at other boaters while they're enjoying cocktails and hors d'oeuvres aboard their boats, and it hasn't resulted in any other invitations to come aboard! It worked with the Hersheys. Perplexing. I must work on my technique!
In an earlier blog, I alluded to a deep-seated obsession with catching a squirrel--any squirrel. I promised to tell you about my first Halloween and a squirrel so fiendish, an act against a 7-month-old puppy (me) so heinous, that...well, I have recurring dreams of retribution...
SQUIRREL CRIMES TRIAL
NUTTENBERG. The prosecution called to the stand the 47th and final canine witness to testify in this sensational case that has pitted dog against squirrel in the courtroom with explosive allegations that led to charges of abusive taunting while eluding capture, unlawful flight up trees, chattering nonsense with the intent to enrage, and nut-to-cranium mischief. The much-awaited testimony of Meg, a Westie from Manteo, tugged at the heartstrings of the jury, if only because of her tender age at the time of the alleged crime.
"Describe for the jury the events of that fateful morning nearly 6.5 years ago," Prosecutor Molly Spaniel prompted softly.
"Well, ma'am, it was the morning after my very first Halloween..." Members of the jury and courtroom observers were heard gasping, clearly remembering their own exhausting "first Halloween" experiences as puppies: the smells, the noises, the short, scary people milling about outside, the repeated door knocking, the constant handing out of perfectly good treats!
"Order in this court!" Judge Boxer demanded. "Continue with your testimony."
"Yes sir. I was recovering in my front yard, lying in the grass, and the house was secured to my collar by a 10-foot leash when I smelled something flash close by me. I scrambled to my feet. Turned toward the smell. And there...there he was..."
"Do you need a moment, Meg?" asked Ms. Spaniel.
Meg shook it off, indicating she wanted to go on. "The squirrel was standing on the low wall, just inches beyond the reach of my leash! He knew he could do whatever he wanted! He knew I was helpless!
"I began crying, gut-wrenching sobs, like any heartbroken puppy would! The squirrel began swishing its tail to and fro, walking slowly back and forth along the wall, taunting me to do something! To catch him if I could! I was straining to reach him. I just wailed louder because there was nothing I could do. My peep came running and just as she got there, that's when the squirrel did it!"
"Did what Meg? Tell us," she urged gently.
"Unwrapped a Kit Kat bar and ate it in front of me!"
Totally true story. My peep saw it, she can tell you.
I WILL NEVER FORGET.
It is my mission to keep the squirrels off the waterfront. Ever so often I'll see one trying to sneak across the bridge from Festival Park and I'll lock it in a laser stare that causes it to freeze and then turn and run back across the bridge. I am watching. I will never forget.
"Describe for the jury the events of that fateful morning nearly 6.5 years ago," Prosecutor Molly Spaniel prompted softly.
"Well, ma'am, it was the morning after my very first Halloween..." Members of the jury and courtroom observers were heard gasping, clearly remembering their own exhausting "first Halloween" experiences as puppies: the smells, the noises, the short, scary people milling about outside, the repeated door knocking, the constant handing out of perfectly good treats!
"Order in this court!" Judge Boxer demanded. "Continue with your testimony."
"Yes sir. I was recovering in my front yard, lying in the grass, and the house was secured to my collar by a 10-foot leash when I smelled something flash close by me. I scrambled to my feet. Turned toward the smell. And there...there he was..."
"Do you need a moment, Meg?" asked Ms. Spaniel.
Meg shook it off, indicating she wanted to go on. "The squirrel was standing on the low wall, just inches beyond the reach of my leash! He knew he could do whatever he wanted! He knew I was helpless!
"I began crying, gut-wrenching sobs, like any heartbroken puppy would! The squirrel began swishing its tail to and fro, walking slowly back and forth along the wall, taunting me to do something! To catch him if I could! I was straining to reach him. I just wailed louder because there was nothing I could do. My peep came running and just as she got there, that's when the squirrel did it!"
"Did what Meg? Tell us," she urged gently.
"Unwrapped a Kit Kat bar and ate it in front of me!"
Totally true story. My peep saw it, she can tell you.
I WILL NEVER FORGET.
It is my mission to keep the squirrels off the waterfront. Ever so often I'll see one trying to sneak across the bridge from Festival Park and I'll lock it in a laser stare that causes it to freeze and then turn and run back across the bridge. I am watching. I will never forget.
Way to go Meg! Someone's got to keep those squirrels in line.
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