eeeeek! A Mouse!

While enjoying my coffee this morning, I saw something I don't like to see...well, maybe it was kind of cute. A mouse was nibbling his way along the edge of fence acting like I wasn't even there. ewwww. or maybe...awwwww. I can't decide. Growing up I spent lots of time at my Nana and Papaw's house in the country. There were always mice in the field, mice in the peanut hay in the barn and yes, mice in the house. So it follows that there were mouse traps. The kind that go 'snap' and you immediately know someone's going to have to go take the deceased to the trash pit. My papaw was elated to hear that sound. I always cried. After all mice are kinda of cute with their little wiggly nose and quick way of darting here and there and I hated the thought that a living thing had just ceased living.

So what do I do about the mouse in my back yard? I have some poison in the garage. I could put a little square on the path he's taking. But then he'll eat it, get thirsty and go into the alley to die and then my neighbor's will call me and laughingly accuse me of murder. I'm an animal lover and am amazed by all life forms but I still have this equation of mice=filth. I don't think I was born with the innate knowledge that 'girls don't like mice' but it's there...that need to jump on the patio furniture and scream. I was trained to possess the eeeeek factor. Last fall I alone killed at least 4 mice and I think I feel remorse. I'm going to let this mouse live his little mouse life in my back yard...I can't bring myself to hurt him. Yes, I'm a tree hugger and I'd probably make a great Buddist in regard to living things but it all boils down to that fact that that mouse is just so darn cute.

As I went back outside after the first sighting this morning, I found that I was actually looking for him and hoping to see him again. Oh well, probably a neighborhood cat will get into the back yard and end the issue altogether. In the meantime, I will embrace the idea of 'mouse' and make that decision that girls don't have to hate mice. Ahhhh...freedom :)