I miss the squirrels!

I took them for granted - the squirrels I mean. We had a whole family of them last summer. They jumped and climbed on the bird feeders right outside my diningroom window. We took pictures of them as they displayed their antics. They dashed around on the ground below the feeders picking up all of the spilled birdseed. They crawled craftily along the top of the fence, hiding amongst the vines and overgrowth along the fencerow - looking to see if they had been spotted. They ran up the telephone pole when too much movement was detected within the windows, the humans peering out at them. They would come as many as five at a time - five fluffy creatures brave enough to come close to the house - lured by the smell of sunflower seeds. We would laugh and call out to each other to come to the window and watch. Hurry before they run away. Look at how they interact with the birds. Listen to them yap at each other in squirrel-talk. Such fun. I wonder what happens to them when the Indiana winter winds bring snow and sleet and bitter cold. Are they cuddled up together in nests high in the tops of trees, full of our birdseed, filled with the warmth of summer?

And then winter passed. Spring came. I filled the bird feeders and birds came - but no squirrels. I must have just missed them. I will surely see them tomorrow. But tomorrow came and still no squirrels. Did they not survive the winter? I miss them.