It was a very pleasant morning in Canyon Bryce,

Not a creature was stirring, not even the mice.

The sun was shining; the day was most grand,

This trip was even better than I had planned.

As Rebecca and I pleasantly strolled along,

My mood was heavenly, my heart filled with song.

Suddenly, Rebecca heard a stirring high in the trees,

She quickly gazed up in wonder, at what she did see.

“Ed, look up there!  What the heck is that?”

“That, my dear, is a Ring-tailed Cat!”

“A what?” she exclaimed, now most curious.

“Hush, Rebecca, before it becomes furious.”

“And please notice its extremely large eyes and ears,

“They make it quite easy, to see and hear you my dear!”

“You mean, you mean, it might attack?”

“Oh, yes, indeed, and jump on your back!”

As Rebecca rushed off, I chuckled with glee,

“Come back here, silly, it’s harmless – really!”

“This creature is docile; it eats insects and mice,

These ring-tailed cats are really quite nice.”

“It’s actually related to a raccoon, and not to a cat,

Come on over here, dear, and examine its scat!”

“It lives in these canyons, and hunts mostly at night,

It’s a wonderful creature, so please lose your fright.”

“Then why did you scare me, you silly old fool?”

“Why?  Because I love you – and you’re so cool!”

“Let’s just keep walking, and quit scaring me, Ed,

“Or I swear I will smack you - very hard - in the head.”

“Yes, dear.”

Just returned from our marvelous trip West.  Saw some fantastic scenery: red rock canyons, snow-capped mountain ranges, and cool blue alpine lakes.  And spotted some extremely intriguing critters: ring-tailed cats, elk, bighorn sheep, buffalo, red-tailed hawks, road runners, mule deer, and a few fruit bats.

Marveled at them all, and at the splendor of Nature’s grandeur.

Sometimes, road trips are just what the doctor ordered.