RACCOON Card

After midnight the neighborhood comes alive with barking dogs. A young raccoon scrambles up a tree. An act of survival. Safe in the canopy, he vies the chaos below. In the Algonquin language, “raccoon” comes from the world “arckunem,” meaning “hand scratcher.” Raccoons can open lids, latches, doorknobs. They appear to wash their hands and food before eating. This little guy in the tree seems so adaptable despite all the encroachment in this world. His mask makes me think of the masks I wear—how I hide behind my brush and hesitate to take risks. Perhaps there is a lesson here: to rise above routine; to break through disguise; to aim higher than ever before. In these difficult times, this little raccoon reminds me to get a grip, have a sense of humor, and climb that tree.