Virtual Quill

I’m back at school following the Thanksgiving break, and for the next two weeks my life will be dominated by final exams. I’ve gotten my required courses out of the way now, so from this point on everything I take will be in my core curriculum of genetics. (Those required courses were a struggle, as they were all insectivore-based as befitting my species. However, I guess you all know that I was new to an insect-based diet, and a lot of catching up was involved. I’m up to speed now.)
Last week someone asked about the DNA analyses of indigenous species of North American. Yes, those have been done, and they support the theory that they migrated over the Bering Strait land bridge eons ago.
Someone else asked about the relative intelligence of different species here. I don’t know about humans, but here there is research that supports the concept of various types of intelligences with different yardsticks involved. The pioneering studies on this was done by a herbivore named Howard Garden.
Surprisingly, it was Gran who first led me to the readings in which the theory was based.

This year our official Thanksgiving meal will be just the five of us, plus the two grandmothers. (As I mentioned last week, that will be my breakfast so I’ll have cricket pancakes and fried beetle eggs, sunny-side up. Later that night I’ll have an actual dinner with Fenton and his parents.)
I’ve gathered that you humans have your own Thanksgiving tradition, but I’ll tell you ours. It began when a group of persecuted settlers left England in the early 1600s. These were foxes, who were being hunted for sport by the upper-class hounds. They landed in America, and found new conflict with the local population of canis lupus.
The two species occupied the same ecological niche, which led to competition and much tragedy later on. However, for one brief moment they set aside their differences for a feast that we re-create every November. (Earlier in Canada.)
The tradition was picked up by the hibernating species who incorporated the feast into their usual practice of fattening up for the winter. The herbivores joined in for a similar reason; the last chance to get as much nourishment as possible before their diet went dormant until spring. Soon everyone joined in, even groups that immigrated later and had no connection to the original feast. It was one of the first universal traditions that involved every single species.
The second universal tradition was shopping like mad the day after.

Unfortunately I was right about Rudy failing his driving test. The good news is that he can still take it again after a little more practice. Dad told me that he has some ideas that might help.
The holidays are coming up, which I approach with mixed feelings. While I enjoy coming home, it also puts me in close proximity to Fenton’s pushy parents. Thanksgiving Day is complicated, as my family serves its big meal at the time of day that’s breakfast for Fenton and I. Around 3 a.m., we’ll have dinner with Fenton’s parents. As much as she annoys me, I have to admit that his mom is an excellent cook. Her stuffed tarantula is to die for.
I’m co-writing a research paper with one of my professors, Dr. Tuskermann. It’s about cross-species genetic markers, such as the one I found for Domestication that occurs across the animal spectrum. (That remains controversial, and I need one of my professors as a co-author for it to be taken seriously.)
Lastly, the leaves are falling. That always reminds me of my herbivore childhood, and I get nostalgic. Then, I see a big juicy bug and my natural dietary instincts assert themselves.

The election’s over, and I’ll just say that I’m happy. The gazelle triumphed over the porcupine, which was historic. It’s the first time a species of an African habitat has been elected President. (It should be noted that while his father was an African gazelle, his mother was a North American whitetail deer. He’d have fit nicely into our diverse circle!)
For me, the main impact is that the executive restriction on stem cell research will be immediately overturned upon his Inauguration. This will make life at the lab immeasurably easier for me and for my whole team.
I’ll admit that I cried on Election Night. From growing up as a quilled species in the rabbit warren, to switching from a herbivore to an insectivore diet as a teen, to becoming a member of a terrifically diverse family, to be engaged to a member of another species...and not the least the discovery of my human origins...It was amazingly gratifying to see that significant differences could be overcome in such spectacular fashion. A member of an outsider group was not only embraced, but given the responsibility of leadership. It still takes my breath away.
Now the hard work starts.
Meanwhile, life goes on. This week Rudy is set to take his driving test for the first time. (I realize that the preceding statement doesn’t show a lot of confidence.)

Unlike most Sundays, I won't be able to respond to your replies from across the portal like I usually do. This isn't due to any inter-dimensional interference...It's just because I'll be gone all day campaigning for my candidate, so I'll have to wait until next Sunday for my weekly human conversation.
I do get a lot out of this regular give-and-take, and thankfully without it impacting my hedgehog instincts. (Once a week doesn't seem to reach some yet-to-be-determined tipping point causing instinct loss.) It's given me a window on my origins, filling in the gaps that were always in my background. I feel whole for the first time in my life.
I now feel ready to take on adulthood and its responsibilities. I'm still going to wait until graduation before marrying Fenton, but I'll be comfortable with myself when I eventually do. For that, you humans are partly to thank.
See you next Sunday!