The other day I was running in the park, around Stow Lake. It was a warm, pleasant day and I was thoroughly enjoying my environment. Around Stow Lake one has the opportunity to enjoy the view of trees, bushes, flowers (including my favorite callas), the water, bridges, a pagoda, turtles, ducks, and seagulls pretending to be ducks in the water, the occasional heron. This day the smell of the blossoming trees was intense.

I was totally immersed in this scene, running along the outside perimeter of the path, which is lined with trees in many places. Within a split second, out of the corner of my eye I saw a squirrel dashing down the tree trunk. It lept down towards the ground just as my foot was swinging forward to take the next step. The squirrel flew in the air and landed 5-6 feet away from where it intended, unscathed but also a little disoriented. After a brief pause he scurried off. I, on the other hand took a little longer to process what had just happened.

I kicked a squirrel.

If you've read earlier in my blog history you'll know that this isn't the first time I have collided with an animal whilst running in the park. Yes, I have also experienced the pleasantry of a pigeon in the face, which was quite traumatic.

Incidentally, while looking up a Google image to add to this post, I came across this picture:

I just thought it was funny that he's bow-legged.