Capture the Wild

I captured this picture on my smart phone, I was just lucky enough to have it with me. It was charged and had space available in the memory. No edits needed. Deciding which picture captures him the best... was probably the hardest decision for me during this entire process.

I step out in my backyard for a break from reality. It is when I can't go on a real vacation because we are short on money.

I love when it is sunny out. The days of the year that are the warmest.

I lay back close my eyes and pretend I am in the Caribbean.

The green grass turns to golden sands and blue seas.

I love feeling the warmth as the sun kisses my skin, and I get a breath of fresh air.

Then I snap back into reality as my neighbor starts to mow his lawn.

As disappointment sets back in, I am greeted by my furry friend.

I have seen him off and on over the years but was worried as the days go by. He had not stopped by to say Hi.

I noticed my neighbors fixing up the space beneath their shed last year. As they added more dirt.

I believe this is my little friend's summer vacation spot.

I am leaning back in my lounge chair visiting with my mom as I spot his brown hair. His little cute body and long tail.

I exclaim "I wish he was my pet!"

My mom made the comment he might bite. Soon after that he was back out of sight.

I notice that he is smaller than the year before. Then I start to think there must be more.

On any given day, I see chipmunks, and squirrels, and rabbits galore.

Every now and then I see a few other animals outside my door.

We have a few deer that wonder our neighborhood, and this little red fox too.

The fox likes to leave dead animals in my garage.

We have seen birds, and bats, and a family of raccoons. It is crazy to see all of these animals when we live in the city.

Someone thought he was a woodchuck or a beaver. We are pretty sure he is probably just a ground hog.

Some days I like to act up and say he is Bucky badger.

Rather than admit he's not all that special, but to me he is. Because not many people get to see what I see.

He is my little chubby brown friend filled with mystery.

I wonder where he goes, and what it is that he does.

If that was not him, I saw last year. Does that mean he's the baby?

Maybe he just looked small as he crawled underneath the trees.

Last year when I captured a picture of him maybe he had less fears.

He was roaming through the middle of the yard. Past the sandbox, and through the gate's door.

He was a lot more interesting to watch than and less of a bore.

I often wonder where he lives. Where does he go to explore? My curiosity pushes me to follow him.

But I do not want to scare him and see him no more.

So, I continue to ask myself I have seen him walk, but can he swim?

Does he run, or does he frolic in the sun? Does he like chocolate, or only eat greens?

There is so much I do not know about him. There is only so much you can learn from what you have seen.

Does he know Jimmy the ground hog or Punxsutawney Phil?

Can he predict the weather, or is he just a regular run of the mill ground hog with no personality?

No matter what he will always be special to me. Now what to name him, hmm.

Does he look like a Bucky? Well yeah to me. But that name is already taken.

So, what have I observed? He needs a name to show others what makes him unique.

I've got it... he is one hell of a guy. I think I have the perfect name. It is so fitting. I am going to call him Sly!