Have you ever gone from one room to another to get something, and then you get there and can’t remember what you were going for? Happens to me all the time. Sometimes I’m writing a note, get distracted for a minute, and then can’t remember what I wanted to write down. The same thing happens when I come up with an awesome story idea in the middle of the night and it’s so good, I know I’ll remember it in the morning. So, I don’t get up and write it on the notepad I keep on my bedside table. And guess what? I wake up the next morning and can’t remember that great idea. Things to do, ideas, thoughts I want to share pop into my head and pop right out. A dear friend calls that “popcorn brain” and claims to have it. Well, I’ve got it, too.
I’ve been walking around our yard and noticing all these little empty holes. And I know who’s digging them. The two squirrels racing around in our yard, tapping into their larder. A squirrel can remember where and what kind of nut it buried. I probably could, too, if it was only a small handful. Maybe. A squirrel can remember the type and location of 9000 nuts! And keep in mind they are laying up treasure every year after year for as long as they live. Multiply 9000 locations by a squirrel’s life span (5-10 years depending on what disease, humans, and predators he/she encounters) and you have a cute little rodent who remembered 45,000-90,000 locations!
I have trouble remembering where I put my car keys!
Squirrels also remember puzzles and can apply the solutions from one puzzle to another. No wonder they can figure out how to get into a bird feeder! I have trouble remembering how to use the TV remote! Oh, yeah, the new one is voice activated. (So is Siri and she enters our conversations on occasion because we forget to turn her off.)
I have great respect and affection for squirrels (as long as they stick with the shelled peanuts I pour into their picnic bowl and stop treating my tulips bulbs as a buffet!) These frisky little critters are remarkable, and they teach us a valuable lesson: Gather Scriptures, bury them deep within your heart, dig them up and be continually nourished.
Ah, to have squirrel memory.