Rockie!

Let me introduce you to Rockie.  Rockie is my mom's pride and joy.  She is a very plump and spoiled squirrel.  She was given to Mom by my step-sister....who, according to legend, found a baby squirrel that had fallen out of its nest.  My mom basically adopts this rodent, gives it a cute name and raises it in her home. Rockie is fed gourmet nuts and fruits.  She even munches on carrots, sweet potatoes and shrimp tails.  Last month, when Mom told me how much it cost to have Rockie treated at the vet, I nearly fainted.  Rockie even got her teeth cleaned!  Well, if there's ever been royalty in the family of squirrels, Rockie is it.  Just look at her.  She exposes her tummy as she nestles in her bed.  It even looks like she's waving at us! If I can come back as another creature, it would be Rockie.

If you're tempted to equate Rockie with the prizefighter, the Italian Stallion, Rocky Balboa, that's okay. They're both kind of scrappy. Rockie even does her morning calisthenics to Eye of the Tiger!

Photos Mother took!

Update: May 23, 2008

As you can tell, Mom's pet squirrel, Rockie, is in dire need of a bra. Of course, if you're more of a naturalist, hiding nature's gifts would be a scandal.

Update: June 8, 2008

Mom's pride and joy, Rockie, went into Squirrel Paradise yesterday. [Would a Taoist squirrel be admitted?!?] Rockie was with us for five years, and was a source of joy and intrigue for the family. Perhaps it's just mere coincidence, but Rockie's "exit" was on the same day as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's official exit from the Democratic Primary. Maybe Rockie was aghast that Hillary had to say goodbye. Rockie, being the lady she was, reportedly threw her full weight behind the Junior Senator from New York. Let's just say they left the stage together. Another strange coincidence occurred a few day's ago: an uncle of mine was admitted into the hospital for stroke-like symptoms. It just so happened to be the same day that Senator Barack Obama became the Democratic Presumptive Nominee for President! I will have to talk with Uncle Watty to find out if there was any correlation. Regardless, I am happy to report that both Uncle Watty and Senator Obama are now resting comfortably at their homes.

After Rockie, Mother rescued, raised for a bit, then released these brother and sister squirrels on her Shorterville, AL land.

click here to discover a bond between a Russian taxi and his squirrel

and my maternal grandmother loved this song!

Kade's sister Nan with a squirrel their family rescued and kept as a pet in Bangkok - circa early '80s.