As an inner city kid who loved animals, I cherished any wildlife we had. I absolutely adored squirrels for as long as I can remember. Gray ones, brown ones, red ones, black ones (I sound like Eric Burdon) I just wanted to take them all home and keep them safe and warm.
They're sweet, lovable, playful, cute as a button, and when they put their little 'hands' together, waiting to see if you're going to give them a peanut, well...that just melts my heart.
One time, on my way to bring some Christmas oatmeal raisin cookies for the office, I came upon a squirrel and had no peanuts...he looked at me, tiny hands pressed against his furry belly, and my heart sank. But then I realized...oatmeal raisin cookies would be a Christmas treat for him so I opened the package, gave him a cookie and he loved it! I just had to explain to the recipients that one cookie was missing (they all laughed.)
The squirrels where my parents lived later on knew me so well, they'd all come running as soon as they saw me visiting...one even took the peanut right from my hand, his own tiny hands encircling my finger!
Now, getting back to why squirrels are all named 'Jerry.' We lived one block away from the world-famous Bronx Zoo, which was a wonderful thing for all the kids in my neighborhood. Because we both loved animals, my father would take me every Sunday morning and we'd walk, hand in hand, as I observed the chipmunks and squirrels scooting by.
I must have asked him what their names were because I remember him stopping and, looking down at me, saying "Kid, God named all squirrels 'Jerry.'" And that took care of that.
So every time I see a squirrel now, I say "Hi Jerry!" and think of my father's eccentric and hilarious sense of humor.
And that is why all squirrels are named 'Jerry'...!
