Last year several ancient oak trees were cut down on campus to make room for a new wing of the main library. In taking a few moments to contemplate the loss of those majestic beings, I happened to observe the behavior of a number of squirrels as they struggled to comprehend the destruction of their habitat. From their erratic movements it was immediately clear they were completely disoriented. They would wander amid the debris, pause, look about with expressions of disbelief, and retrace their steps as if somehow they had lost their way. They seemed determined that if they just kept circling the area they would find those trees, still standing, still intact. It was a very poignant scene that for a few moments seemed almost surreal. Any moment I expected to hear a tiny little "Alvin-the-Chipmunk" type voice yelling:

"Where're my fucking nuts?"

Yeah, that's about where I'm at right now...

I know. I feel ya and feel for ya.