Virtue Signaling Season

It's the mice time of year again

I caught two very large mice in my humane traps. I congratulated myself the whole way as I carried them into the forest to release them, pleased with my benevolence and especially pleased that they were together.

Then I looked at them more closely. They were trembling, slick with stress, clearly having had a terrible time of it. The long trip, the giant white muzzle sniffing them, the jolting around on the way to the field... And it occurred to me that all I had really done was move their likely deaths somewhere else. Somewhere I wouldn’t have to see it.

Behind the field, the apartment buildings towered over everything like a reminder. I wasn’t saving anyone. I was just relocating the problem.

So instead of applauding my supposed kindness, I’ll offer something better: Socks running in the field.

I’ve always loved those progressive zoom-in shots when he’s sprinting toward the camera. One of the photos from this set might be the best picture I’ve ever taken of him. His smile reflects perfect bliss.

He’s been very well behaved lately. Calm, almost dignified, except when I get on the phone. Then he immediately assumes it’s playtime and loses his mind. Apparently a human talking to no visible person is deeply suspicious behavior.

It’s raining again. I’m keeping an eye on the riverbed and hoping it stays politely inside its banks and out of my little corner of the woods.

I did see a rainbow the other day. A faint one, but still lovely. I’m hoping for another.

I hope you’re all having a beautiful day.

Thank you for your support. I appreciate it very much.

And Socks does too.

If you’d like to give Socks a one-time toy or treat, you can even name it. He knows all his toys by name (Peaches, Benoit, Jake). Click below.

Give Socks a Bone!

Oh and here are the mice:

And here’s last year’s post about the journey to mouse freedom: