HELLO, my name is Squirrel Man

Something like this would only happen in New York City.

My folks and I were walking around Battery Park. We noticed a man sitting on a park bench feeding nuts to squirrels. I looked at him, and he looked at my nametag and waved me over, "Hey Scott, come sit down next to me...feed the squirrels. It's a lot of fun!" I was hesitant at first, but he seemed like a nice old guy...

"Sit down here, and I'll show you how to do it." So he puts a nut in my right hand and tells me to hold my left hand palm up and to simply wait, and let the squirrels come to me. Before I knew it, I felt a thud on my back and a squirrel was scurrying across my chest and onto my hand. Oh my god. There's a freakin' squirrel on my hand! Don't squirrels have rabies!?"

"Don't squirrels have rabies or something," I asked the man. "No, they're very tame and friendly. I've been doing this for 20 years and I promise they'll be very nice to everyone! In fact, this squirrel here - his name is Joey." He went on to tell stories about squirrels from years ago, his life story and great people he had met over the years. He knew everything about the types of squirrels, trends of their eating habits and names of about 50 regulars who always showed up!

"I buy about 4 pounds of nuts a day, and come out here 4-6 days a week." Wow, that's a lot of nuts. "My name is Scott," I said. "Hi, my name is Ira, but everyone knows me as the squirrel man."

To make yourself more approachable, find a front porch that best manifests your personality so other people feel more comfortable. However, rodents that may potentially transmit rabies should only be used by trained experts.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...

What types of pets or animals encourage you approach others?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That guy with the nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com