passed another racoon with distemper. that’s three of four of them over the last two months. racoons ordinarily flee people or if they do get close it isn’t because they want to lick your hand. these ones are sick, they sit still in the middle of people traffic, they have a tremor and their eyes look like they’re deep in a distracted state of not remembering what is a racoon. when you see a play you want to believe the actor, if they’re playing the role of a monster or an accountant you want to forget they are an actor and believe they really can destroy a building or add numbers at the speed of light. most of the people speaking english to the animals remind me of brilliant actors, i can see it in their faces they are expecting the animal to process the meaning of their statements which could never mean anything other than a sound. two older ladies were talking to it, coaxing it saying things like where is your mother? go back to your tree. i pass many people on the trails believing animals understand english. i wish i could pass one of them using modern improvisational vocal technique instead of who’s a good boy? it’s nice when the wet mud freezes and i was walking around it doing a good job when i stepped on some frozen grass and then my foot went through a sudden break and was submerged. damn, a wet foot in the cold. and at least a 40 minute walk to get home. headed back hoping my toes wouldn’t get too crazy cold before the chance to change socks. that’s when i came upon this raccoon and the two actors pretending to be old ladies expecting racoons to understand english. makes one wonder what would meredith monk do?