The Free Radical

For the three of you left who don’t already know, the word “apocalypse” means to reveal or unveil. And in case you haven’t guessed, we live in times of revelation.

So for the past week, we have encountered Eagle six out of seven days. This latest trip in the rain was one of the more startling of these interactions. As the wind whipped the spattered rain directly into my face, as we travelled south along the power line, I could clearly hear Eagle’s call up ahead. That had never happened before. Trying to be more diligent, I immediately dug the GoPro out of my pack and kept it at the ready in my hand… eyes to the skies…

Well as everybody knows, a watched pot never boils… just as the anticipated eagle never shows itself. It seems that every time that I have the camera in hand, I encounter quite a lot of nothing. Only when the camera is safely stowed in the zippered pouch on my backside do the animals come to visit.

We had just decided to cut the walk short because we were already both soaked– though I was the only one who seemed to care– when, with camera abandoned again, as we turned toward home, Eagle flew up from a nearby tree and quickly disappeared over the eastern treetops. Dammit! Missed again!

At just that precise moment, Sitka was busy hunting… rather successfully.

It was only the day before that Sitka heard for the very first time the squeak of Columbia Ground Squirrel– newly awakened. She figured out immediately that all those holes in the ground were the intriguing source of some new springtime fun.

Clearly, Ground Squirrel is a favourite prey animal of Eagle, so this serves to reinforce the significance of our encounter with Eagle. Ground Squirrel is the keeper of deep, dark secrets. From the labyrinthian conspiracy of underground tunnels, he seldom brings much to light.

This day the message is clear. With the consistency of Eagle’s presence over the past week, we can expect some groundbreaking revelations to come to light very soon (particularly from/about the US)… to be purified in the cleansing rain. Pay attention; stay strong!

And just in case we’re a bit squeamish and offended by Sitka’s actions, remember: she’s only doing what canines naturally do. And if it’s any consolation, the ground squirrel was a male, not a pregnant female or anything. (You can check his substantial testicular endowment yourself!)