Jimmy,

I liked your old booklet site. Nothing better than someone who is actually doing what they write about. You published a lot of useful stuff. Which brings me to squirrel hats.

My wife & I have a few acres in North Florida, about 10 miles south of the Georgia border.

Several weeks ago we were sitting outside in the shade under a couple very tall oak trees, enjoying the afternoon, facing each other, talking. Cheryl's back was to the trees, so I was facing them.

We hear a noise up in the tree. There's a slight breeze. I figure it's a small branch coming down. I don't want us to get hit, so I look up.

I can hear it falling through the branches, but I can't see it. Then suddenly it emerges, falling right towards my wife. I see what it is, and in total disbelief, I yell, "MOVE!!!"

I jump up and Cheryl jumps up. As she takes her first step, this lump falls to the ground about a foot behind her chair. It is a squirrel ... with a 5-foot snake wrapped around it.

We were both astonished. We moved the chairs a fair distance away and watched. It took about 25 minutes for that snake to strangle the squirrel, unhinge its jaws, & swallow the furrball whole.

As I considered the incident later, I realized there was an obvious marketing lesson. But I'm old and I can't for the life of me recall what it was.

I'm sure it's obvious to you, though I don't think it had anything to do with squirrel hats.

By the way ... very good point about commercial clients v individuals. Sometimes I lose track of that. Thanks for the reminder.

Richard Dennis