To the editor:
For most of my adult life I’ve enjoyed walking, both for exercise and pleasure. Now that I’m retired — all of two weeks now — I find myself taking early morning strolls in the great outdoors around 6 a.m.
The streets of our beautiful Star City are both refreshingly quiet at this time of day, yet teeming with the sights and sounds of our local wildlife. This is the time when I feel the most alive, when hopes spring eternal and crisp early summer air sends new energy thru my veins.
Most citizens of our fair city are familiar with our winged fowl that basically call the hospital pond their home. But many of these fine “neighbors” do migrate from time to time. I know this ’cause I’ve seen them as far “west” as Dudley Street. Any small puddle will do I’ve noticed, and they will group in numbers of four or five and just find contentment wherever they gather. We could learn a lot from those feathered friends.
Rarely do I finish a walk without encountering a squirrel or two just having a blast relishing the start of a blessed day. Funny thing is it doesn’t seem to matter if it’s sunny or rainy. They’re just elated to be alive another day. We humans spend way too much time bellyaching about things we cannot change. “Chip and Dale” seem to naturally know that’s a waste of time and effort.
Sadly, there’s lots of outdoor cats on the prowl and I think of how short the average life of these cats is — 3 years — compared to indoor cats — 12 years. I think also of all the song birds I’m no longer enjoying because these cats have killed, and are, killing them.
Just before I get back home I spot a neighbor’s cat, a mostly black and white cat called Polly. She’s on their lawn a couple houses away as I start talking to her as all cat lovers talk to their animal friends. As I get closer I realize quite sheepishly I’ve been talking to a black and white soccer ball left out overnight. Chuckling to myself I head into my apartment as I thank God for the opportunity to live in God’s country — specifically Presque Isle, Maine.
Clare Kierstead
Presque Isle
