For two weeks I’ve changed my rhythms, going out to run at 5. It helped me get through the holidays that turned into a John Waters Christmas. All I needed was Divine to come back from the dead escorting my mother.
The park is pitch black at that hour, lit only by its lamp posts giving off just enough light to keep you on your route.
Only a handful of runners are out, along with a colony of raccoons, heading home.
Usually they skedaddle when they see you, but this hasn’t been the case with me. They tool on by as if to say…this is early, even for you.
I of course respect their territory, politely stopping to let them pass. One had his paws filled with contraband lifted from one of the trash bins.
When you see a lot of trash on the ground, it’s not from sloppy park-goers, but the coons who pick and choose what they’d like, forgetting to put the rejects back in the can.
They’re young, many of them, and I’m sure like all kids, have messy rooms.
They’re also shy creatures, another reason they prefer night to day, something we can all relate to.
Sometimes you just don’t want to deal with the outside world.
People think when you happen to glimpse one at dawn, he’s diseased, but not necessarily. He’s just late, missing curfew…again. You can tell because they run faster, hoping mom doesn’t catch them.
I always picture the mother pacing up and down in the tree half worried, half pissed, sending him to that messy room.
You’re grounded for a week Rocky, or in his case, tree-ed till you can learn to respect the rules.
I’ll end with a story my friend Anthony, who has a cabin upstate, told me.
He had a dresser on his porch he was planning on stripping and refinishing that had several drawers. Every morning he’d get up to find them scattered across the yard.
He finally stayed up to catch whoever it was, and sure enough, a raccoon, the size of Pittsburgh, tooled up the steps opening each one to see if he’d find anything interesting.
Anthony, a big nature lover, was so charmed, he just sat and watched.
The next night when Mr. Raccoon came, he found the drawers filled with a buffet of canned goods.
Don’t you know he made several trips, and left the drawers alone.
How I love that story. 
SB
I dunno that I like you running in the dark at 5 am, young lady…
That said, I love this whole post! Your descriptions of the messy racoons and the mom being pissed, comparing it to the two-legged kids. Wonderful!
And Anthony is the biggest sweetheart out there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That story warms me. If you’ve ever watched them they’re fascinating the way they can pick things up like we do. And they’re fussy. They clearly don’t drink diet soda since coke cans are everywhere. Mom probably doesn’t allow them to have it. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
They truly are. Mom is smart to not allow it. Not good for them at all. (My mom never let me and I never acquired the taste for it!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can’t help but love raccoons. Their little masked faces, playfulness, and cleverness draw you in like magnets. We had a family of four (no papa) that made a home in a hollow part over our porch. They were so cute. The babies weren’t afraid at all, but the mom gave a low sound that warned them not to get too close. We didn’t feed them and covered their entry spot with metal when the youngsters were old enough to finally venture out for the day. One season of porch dwellers was sufficient. They made a mess to be cleaned up, but watching them was worth it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The moms are very possessive. I love to watch them teach their kids how to climb. They do it first then inch behind them while they try, making sure to catch little Rocky, when he slips. It’s Nature at her best.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I loved this post about raccoons. I grew up in the South where many people had an entirely different relationship with raccoons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
President Calvin Coolidge’s wife, Grace, had a pet one named Rebecca while in the White House. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow … such an early bird runner. Cheers to your efforts. But you had me laughing about the raccoon kids having messy rooms. That place must be a wreck! Cheers to Anthony.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well Frank, do the math. If you saw the mess they leave, what else can one think. Candy wrappers, Frito bags while Mom’s screaming…I’M NOT THE MAID 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No question!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
LikeLike
We have regular visits from a certain raccoon we have watched grow from a tiny baby. The whole family use to come up to eat the cat food, but he’s now on his own. H feeds him regularly. I fear he may walk right in the door if I left it open.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’d have another son. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Running alone in the park, I hope you bring mace.
As for raccoons, I’ve had a few run ins with them and I know better than to mess with their strut. They are always on a mission. Whereas squirrels ponder and fret and rabbits scurry, raccoons are all business. Cute as all get out, just don’t get in their way.
LikeLike
I agree. We don’t exactly socialize, however, that Lone Ranger, Clara Bow face of theirs just charms the running tights right off me. Love… Whereas squirrels ponder and fret and rabbits scurry…the Aesop in you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
If they were domesticated, I would have a pair.
And yes, you know of what I speak though. Squirrels and raccoons and pigeons, living in that concrete habitat. Their food and shelter hard earned, their attitudes free of charge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have an essay here. Keep writing it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your wish is my command.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t you see the gems you tossed in there? You described those critters so beautifully. Think of it like finding pearls, in the sand. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love those critters, even if my experiences with them were frightening as all get out. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see Tom and Jerry knockin’ on Mr. Imma’s door.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do, quite often. Andy Warhol there with them, holding a bottle of something with a payoff. And then I write.
LikeLike
Funny you should mention Andy. Was reading a book on Lou Reed and he came up quite a bit. Never realized he launched the Velvet Underground. I’m always amazed though I read so much, how much I still don’t know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
But isn’t that a good thing? To always be learning something new?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I’m a late bloomer student wise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s always good to be a student.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yesterday I met a woman who’s 75 and goes to Hunter College to take courses. I found it impressive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have an essay here. Keep writing it
LikeLike
Love everything about this post (which does NOT mean you’ll see me out and running in the park at 5am. Actually, you probably won’t see me running, in the park of out of the park, at any given time … Walking? Sure. Running? Nah … My spine won’t stand for that. Literally … ;)). It amazes me how many people don’t know about the raccoons in the park. They think the only mammals that live there are squirrels (and therefore are also blind to rats and mice and chipmunks, and the occasional coyote and some stray dogs and cats and who knows what else). Messy little dudes and gals they are, though. I can only imagine their Mama tearing her fur out in frustration. Then again, maybe they only leave the mess outside the tree house … 😉
Love this.
🙂
Na’ama
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never saw as many as I have these past two weeks. And they’re pretty laid back. Not that I’m getting too friendly but they just seem unconcerned with runners at that hour. They always seem very focused as if they’re on a mission. Of course these are just my twisted perceptions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m thinking, they have it pretty good in the city, with the replenished ‘pantries’ that park goers leave for them every evening (think of that chest of drawers, on pizza and chips and bits of mustardy pretzel … ;)) – so perhaps they can afford to be laid back? Or, they’ve pretty much figured out that not much hunting comes from these two legged robots clad in shiny stuff who are moving in tempo controlled by square computer units strapped to their upper arms … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re definitely New Yawk City Raccoons. Bet they’re all Yankee fans too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm … perhaps, eh? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Think of those trash bins. Like hitting Lotto.
LikeLiked by 1 person
To a raccoon? Totally! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Masked Bandits” indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cute ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I lived in California the cat door allowed all manner of mayhem from the raccoons. We finally had to close the pet door which put an end to the all-night parties. What did the kitty’s do? Just stood around and watched these large bandits take all their food. (And washing every bit in the water bowl.)
LikeLike
I love this. The laid back cat saying, come on in. All night parties. Funny images. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
We occasionally happen upon black bears on the streets. Nobody wants to share their jogging solitude with a big Bruin. However, I suppose that a raccoon is equally surprising. However, maybe the wildlife is equally upset at share their time on the streets with us too?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They live in the day so detached from all worry. Industrious, filling their needs as they go. Four-legged teachers they are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have much to learn from our four-legged friends.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They don’t worry about tomorrow. What a relief that must be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I only learned recently that there are a lot of raccoons in New York. I always think of them as more of a rural animal, but they are great adapters. I miss seeing animals around like we did in Iowa. There are some squirrels here, but not many.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are there no parks where you are? I remember in Iowa you’d see deer. I wish one would come running with me. Could you see Bambi in sweats? 😊
LikeLike