Raccoon update

[Are_grits_groceries]

120. I had a bat in my apartment in Virginia.

I was on the computer and something flew by and I thought "Damn! That's a big moth."
Then I noticed my cats huddled up staring at something. That's their code for 'Something's here.' They don't swat or whatever. They just stare.

I went over and saw that it was a bat. It was a small brown bat all tight in a ball. I said quite a few swear words. I put the cats in a bathroom, but they had more protection from rabies than I did.

I was in no mood to chase a bat around my apartment. I had done that at my Grandmama's house with whatever was at hand. I had a tennis racquet handy in case it took off.

I had gloves. I used a pair of padded gloves that still were very flexible. I grabbed the bat and took it outside and threw it into the night. When I told people at work, they wanted to know what kind and if it was ok. I didn't know nor did I care.

I had to see my doctor the next day because of an unrelated problem. I mentioned the bat and he freaked out. I thought he was going to call the cops right then to take me to get shots. I assured him I would go. It didn't bite me, but that was moot.

So I got the shots. They weren't that bad. When I was growing up, I always heard you had to get 24 (or 12) shots in the stomach. That was not a pleasant thought.