THE ANXIETY OF THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES

Regular visitors here I’m sure haven’t heard quite enough about The Rodent Situation chez moi these past weeks. To that end, and in keeping with my compulsion to turn every single thing that happens to me into a story, here’s the way this week’s arts and culture piece begins:

Recently I committed to a nine-month Ignatian Exercises “Adventure.” This involves an hour, first thing in the morning, of prayer.

So far, so good, but it turns out a ground squirrel — which, not to put too fine a point on it, is a giant rodent — has dug an extensive warren and set up camp beneath the foundation of my rented house. I know tolerance levels vary in this area, but my level happens to be extremely, extremely low.

As I’m trying to pray around 5:30 a.m., in the cold, dark, and silence, the thing might suddenly start scratching about in the wall or under the floor, a deeply unnerving sound that floods my body with cortisol.

READ THE WHOLE PIECE HERE.