Ode to a Dead Possum

The other day I was walking home from school. It's about a two mile walk, and after a long day, and any sort of extracurriculars I may be obligated to, sometimes a long walk home is really nice.

However, not so much on days like the other day. It was about -180 degrees outside, which meant all the oxygen around me was turning into liquid. Needless to say, it was a mistake to be outside during such inclement weather. However, I couldn't turn around and hide at my school (where all of the oxygen is in a gaseous form), because of the secretaries who man the doors after school hours. It didn't seem like a good idea to infuriate them more than I assume they already are, so I decided to just be a man and walk home. I was almost there when I witnessed a very sad sight on the ground. It was an opposum that had frozen during the night and fallen from its tree onto the road. It was near the edge of the road and had not been run over (yet) by any vehicles larger than, say, a child's bicycle. I stared at it for several seconds before continuing on my way, sadder, and colder, than I was mere moments before.

I'm not sure if people understand or appreciate how hard a life a common opposum (or possum, or Virginia Opposum), lives. I know I didn't until I did some research afterwards.

According to a recent study, Opposums are the worlds ugliest creatures. I'm not sure how valid a result this was, especially considering such worthy candidates as The Naked Mole Rat (TNMR)
exist. However, I must agree the Opposum is not an altogether attractive creature. However, I find its mottled fur, beady little eyes, and bare snout a bit endearing. And it may be, by far, the worlds humblest creature. While some may say that the Manatee is the world's most humble creature, I have to say that I respect an animal that has to rummage for food in the garbage much more than an animal that spends all its time in Florida sunning itself and screwing with the propellers on speed boats.

Opossums do not have it easy. They're not native to the areas north of Pennsylvania, but were pushed up here by human development. As a result, they're not adapted to harsh New England winters. In fact, they don't hibernate, unlike most mammals here. Instead they're forced to deal with the cold by digging burrows and making nests out of sticks, bushes, and trash. Their ears are also very susceptible to frostbite. And on top of all of this, they still do not understand the dangers of cars. I can't help but feel bad for the little guys.