One of the most unexpected yet joyous surprises I’ve experienced since moving to Ohio last year is discovering that there’s an ALBINO SQUIRREL that lives in my neighborhood. Naturally, I had to name him Mr. Albino, although I do not know for a fact whether he truly is a ‘Mr.’ or not. TBD.

He’s very active, as depicted by hanging off the side of my neighbor’s fence (he is the white fluff). Seeing him back in action and still alive after the harshest winter conditions were over this past March instantly expelled any lingering seasonal blues. I even saw him twice during the course of one walk a few weeks ago, which has never happened before, and is an occurrence I’m interpreting as an omen for good luck.

Mr. Albino’s defining presence in my Ohio life has taught me a thing or two about belonging somewhere. The old adage that “the people make the place” is incredibly true, but so are the people and things we come into contact with on a somewhat regular basis, yet appreciate from afar and don’t make prolonged contact with. Such as the rotation of baristas who make your morning coffee, the neighbors you frequently pass while taking their dog on a walk, or a specific building you always see while driving home. The side characters that aren’t at the level of a supporting character but manage to impact you through their presence nonetheless. These ‘landmarks’ help to mark a certain timeframe in our lives. Where you can be amidst so much change and uncertainty, yet know that your favorite street in town will still be there tomorrow. Although we don’t realize that we’re living in the moment until it’s a memory, I know moving to Ohio and becoming neighbors with an Albino Squirrel is a time I’ll look back on for years to come.

💘 Hanna