Rudy And The Mouse

 

My daughter was the mouse whisperer when she was young. If one got into the house she would calmly kneel by the terrified creature who was usually cornered by two house cats who didn't forget their wild instincts. She would enfold it into her palm and carry it outside. I try to mentally go to the logic storage section of my brain and think rationally. "It's a teeny tiny thing who is just as terrified as we are. Look at the big giants, they must think." Then I run.

Live in harmony...

On the other hand .. I am also aware, no matter how cute, they are killers. Not necessarily the ones who stop by for cheese, but deer mice who normally live in the woods. It's rare for humans to become infected with the hantavirus, but, it's also deadly if you happen to breathe the poison into your lungs. I first heard of the disease years ago when I read an article about a young newlywed just beginning a new phase in their lives and readying their new-to-them home. He had been down in the basement sweeping and picking up the usual creepy basement junk people accumulate and all the while breathing in the toxins left by mouse droppings. 

Gene Hackman's wife also died from the virus. Poor Gene, rambling around the house for days, while his wife was upstairs. 

Recently, three elderly people have died from the disease whilst on a cruise ship. Three people are still in critical condition and I assume all the passengers and crew are at risk. Another reason to never, ever go on a cruise ship. They are floating death traps.

I cannot imagine what RFK Jr would do if this disease became a threat in this country. I can't help thinking about the poor birdie who got caught in Bobby's clutches. He claims he was saving it as he nearly strangles it, with a look of glee in his eyes. (Maybe the bird got too close because he thought he saw a worm) As for the mice, the health czar would probably tell us to capture the critters, chop off their heads and make mice jerky. 

It's up to us to look after ourselves for the next two and a half years. I don't even want to think what would happen if we were hit with another deadly disease. I will not eat mice jerky!

Anyway, I think we're ok regarding the hantavirus becoming wide spread. At this point I'm more concerned with a fallout from nuclear weapons Trump and Haggis want to use. "Good news- there's no more hantavirus! Bad news- there's no more people." Except, Rudy, who seems to be making a comeback. That would be bittersweet wouldn't it. Rudy lives and we all die. 

Life is weird.