An Unexpected Visitor Karen Sturtevant
I
recently had an encounter with an unexpected guest, similar to a colleague showing up without an appointment. As I wrote my thoughts, I wondered how this experience could be equated to the world of business on a professional level. What follows is the original writing with additions related to today’s workers. Next door stands a slice of Vermont history. A-seen-better-days, however, a still charming barn built in the 1800s. With its foundation of rock and fixes from years past, it’s a landmark quickly disappearing from our rolling hills. The barn lives at the end of a so-far undeveloped open field. During COVID-19 and the governor’s stay at home orders, my little dog and I had ample opportunity to trespass. Trespass and explore we did. Under the barn, around the field, through the cemetery, and into the marshland. What a fascinating ecosystem we found. And later, as it would turn out, found us.
42 4 Legs & a Tail
Our daily commune with nature gave me an appreciation for the continuous movement of workings typically unseen. Has the chipmunk population exploded this spring? They’re everywhere. Chirping their authority, I watch with awe as my curious canine strains at her leash. In the era of COVID-19, the daily scenery from traffic lights and stop signs have changed to sunrise viewing and watching the frantic maneuvers of gray squirrels. It’s hard to justify being late in signing in when the total travel is from up to downstairs. Just this morning, we garnished the alert attention of a mother groundhog sounding the alarm to her four young to retreat and retreat quickly. Baby groundhogs are darn adorable rodents—really they are! You wouldn’t think they could move fast, but their stubby legs led them to the safety of a woodpile allowing both parties (human and animal) to pass without incident. And the birds! My grandparents had a large bird feeder (build by my granddad) just outside their living room window. They would watch for hours. As a kid, I couldn’t understand the allure. Now, some 40+ years later, I do. With the birds’ distinctive chirps and spastic, ticking movements, bird watching is a new pastime. I may need to invest in a good set of binoculars. Dare I admit, I am turning into my grandmother? I should be so lucky. Bird viewing has taken the place of people watching. As an expert introverted people-watcher, I admit I miss the interactions and awkwardness of my actions in my ‘former’ workplace. My coffee buddies, the guy in the warehouse, and the vendor who restocks the snack machine. Birds over people? Sometimes yes, other times, no way. There is a lot to be said for human-tohuman connection. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the rabbits. Little brown, white-tailed-cute-as-a-button bunnies. Like chipmunks, there seems to be a surplus this year—just ask my dog who thinks she’s a master tracker and hunter. Rarely, we don’t encounter a few on our daily walks. As I’ve been working from home since March, I take move-around breaks in Fall 2020
