Jeff's Tales

"The Squirrel Did It - Why not Me"

The year was 1964 and I was ten years old. My fondest meomories was my tree house that was built on the arms of the mighty pine tree in our front yard. It was your normal constructed tree house (four flat boards). There was one significant difference with the surroundings of my tree house, that may slightly have set if different from others in the neighborhood. There were two high voltage lines running through the branches about ten feet from the main structure of the tree house. Although my parents were not real thrilled, that my brother and I placed our tree house close the power lines, they trusted us  not to be foolish enough to go near them.


I was in total agreement with my parents, until one hot August Summer day,back in 1964, when I observed a grey squirrel running back and forth on the same high voltage wire. The little guy would run a few feet, stop and chew on an acorn, then proceed running back and forth. At that moment, I began to realize that my parents may have misjudged me on the "not to be foolish" part.  I thought to myself, if this squirrel can be in contact with this high voltage power line with no apparent health issues, then why not me.  Before I knew what was happening, I was inching my way out on the forbidden tree limb, the tree  limb that my brother and I had been told to never approach. Well, being the youngest of my brother's, it was me who was going to be the little brother who proved wrong, the age old myth and teaching of the theory that "Man Is Really Stupid, If He Grab High Voltage Line".  As I came within about two feet of the wire, I bravely reached outward to grab hold of the wire, with my little squirrel friend watching. Suddenly, it was as if my entire body had been placed in a huge vice, next the jaws of the vice closed instantly, with an enormous unmeasurable force. My entire body was having the living daylights squeezed out of it and I could do nothing about it. As I tried to release myself, the pressure appeared to only increase, I tried to scream but nothing came out. I knew that I had to break loose, why I am not sure, because once my parents found out that I foolishly touched the wire, they would only turn around and kill me anyway. With one last attempt, I gave it one last bit of energy left in me, to try and free myself from this long winding monster. Before I knew it, I was free, God gave me a second chance.


Once I was free and got my breathe, I looked out over the branch and there sitting on the wire, was that darn little grey squirrel, staring at me.Although I can not prove it, I believe the little guy was laughing his fuzzy little butt off at me. Also, to let you all know, my parents never heard about this shocking experience until about thirty years later.


About five years ago, I was walking up the street of the old neighborhood and observed a local Tree Service removing the old mighty pine tree, where my once upon a time tree house stood. As I sifted through the pine rubble, sure enough there on the ground lay a few pieces of the original floor boards. Today I have the pieces of the floor framed and hung on the basement stairway, along with a brief history of its construction . .


Thanks all and have a great day.


Jeff Waters