Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

Dearest Readers:

Earlier, I walked down my long winding road to the mailbox. As I walk, I always stroll a bit by the pond, then take my time headed to the mailbox. I saw something in the pond. Something I’ve never seen before. Its head looked the shape of an alligator. I threw a stick, to see if it would move to realize that if it was a gator, he might chase me and I can’t run now. Not with the back fracture! The “gator” didn’t come after me! After collecting the mail, I returned to the animal in my pond. Phil was taking a nap, so I waited until he woke up, telling him I think we might have an alligator in the pond.

We walked towards the pond. Phil, as always, directing me not to get too close. I laughed. “Heck, you’re late. I threw a stick by it when walking.”

He grabbed a stick and tapped the “gator.” It didn’t move, so he chose to move it.
No. It wasn’t an alligator. We’ve had our first wildlife loss. At first, we thought it was a cat. Of course, the soft-hearted Barbie found tears slipping down her face. “We must bury it and have a service for it.”

We found a spot underneath a tree. Phil gathered the “gator/cat” and we buried it recognizing it was not a cat, but a raccoon. A male raccoon. You don’t want to know how I know it was a male. Ladies, just use your imagination! Maybe I was a bit too curious!

At least he will rest underneath a tree. I suspect he drowned in the pond. So sad.
Rest in peace, little Racy Raccoon.