It is a wonder my heart can still take moments like this! There I was, driving in the left lane on Patterson Avenue up near Cathedral Oaks, when a young ground squirrel bolted out of the bushes in the center divider, and stopped right in front of my right front tire.
These little critters are fast as greased lightning, but the squirrel froze, looking at the oncoming car monster. Disaster seemed imminent.
In a split second I analyzed my options. I was sharing the road with other cars. There was one in the next lane beside me and one close behind me, so my maneuvering options were not what I wanted. I swerved to the right about a foot and immediately back again, without hitting the car next to me, and said a quick prayer.
I did not feel a bump. It was a young and a smaller ground squirrel, which is a small critter anyway, so it wouldn’t have been much of a bump. I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw that the car behind me had hit his brakes probably because of my swerve.
I had a view of the roadway between us and there was no sign of the squirrel.
Immense relief filled me, realizing that in a split second the squirrel and I made wonderfully complimentary moves that worked out as hoped. The li’l critter lived another day and, I hoped, had learned not to bolt out into the street when those car monsters are around.
I imagine the little squirrel’s heart is still racing and its eyes are still as big as saucers. Mine are pretty much the same.
Among the people I’ve told the story to in person or by text, a couple questioned whether I handled the situation safely. After all, there were cars beside and behind me, and swerving could cause other drivers to freak out and do something that became an accident.
Okay, fair question.
My swerve was fast, and I was back in my tracks faster than I think anyone could have reacted. The car beside me was just enough ahead that the driver may have seen the ground squirrel. The driver behind me backed off.
I’m not defending the way I tried to save the critter, just explaining what I saw and what I did. We all lived through the incident without damage or loss of life, so that is my epitaph to the story.
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
