"Good Morning, General"

"I do not fear failure. I only fear the 'slowing up' of the engine inside of me which is pounding, saying, 'Keep going, someone must be on top, why not you?'" -- General George S. Patton

One of the things I find interesting about my husband is the way he interacts with animals.Take his relationship with our resident chipmunk, for example. On a beautiful July morning, Dennis came into the kitchen from the backyard. . .

Dennis (smiling broadly): I talked with the General this morning.
Me (looking puzzled): The General?
Dennis: Yup.
Me (racking my brain for a clue, coming up with zilch): Uh, who's The General?
Dennis: The chipmunk who lives under the big rock by the shed.
Me: We have a chipmunk living under the big rock?
Dennis: Mm-hmm. He comes out every morning and chatters at me. I call him The General.
Me: Why do you call him "The General"?
Dennis: Because he poses on top of the rock, looking like Patton.

I thought Dennis was exaggerating the Patton resemblance, until a few days later when he pointed out The General standing upright on the rock's peak. And guess what? He does look like Patton. Look at the photo above and see for yourself. No, no. . .look closer. Oh, okay, maybe he doesn't look exactly like the famous American general in this picture. But put an Army uniform and five stars on him, and the chipmunk is a dead ringer for Patton. 

Dennis talks to most of the animals that come into our yard. Bunnies, squirrels, birds, deer. Call me crazy, but I think the critters may be talking back. Trust me, if a skunk shows up. . .I'm outta here.

Between you and me, I feel like I'm living with Dr. Doolittle.  Right now in my mind I can see and hear Rex Harrison crooning "Talk to the Animals". . .

"If people ask me 'can you speak rhinoceros?' 

I'd say 'of courserous! Can't you?'"

Somebody puh-leez make Rex stop. I'm starting to crave animal crackers.


"Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in."
Genesis 7:15-16 (NIV)


Nancy