Our Favorite Foxes

It was a warm summers day, the big kids (Tobins included) were playing in the back yard, I was in the kitchen where Mom was washing dishes. The window above the sink looks out into the back yard and (as this was before we had a fence) beyond to the tar drive leading to the back of the warehouse. Much to my mother’s surprise (and then concern) she noticed a fox casually meander out of the woods and down the asphalt slope towards the parking lot. This was highly unusual behavior for a fox. She called out the window “Look, a fox” to alert the children. Laurie mis-heard, confused as to why Mom would bother to point out a box, but noting the concern in her voice decided it was worth looking at. About this time the fox changed direction and headed towards our yard. I decided the screen porch was a better vantage point to see what the commotion was about. Kids were climbing into the dogwood tree and to the top of swingset. Cousins ran up the slide and jumped onto the playhouse roof. Billy chose the sapling tree next to the shed, not the best choice. Saplings aren’t good for climbing and bend like a fishing pole with a big catch on the line. He clung tight with arms and legs wrapped around the drooping branch, hanging as if tied to a pole being carried by cannibals. The fox wandered right into the commotion, curiously investigating the strange being hovering above. Apparently this fox didn’t feel like exerting himself and wandered down into the parking lot. Mom had quickly called the police about our suspicious acting intruder. They quickly arrived in our driveway and along with a couple of fast responding firefighters restrained and captured the animal which following testing was confirmed to have been rabid. For days later, now-brave children would re-enact what they did and where they went, for any and all audiences.

Although this fox was a cause of great momentary excitement, our favorite fox was Disney’s “Swamp Fox” – a very short lived television series.

http://www.startedbyamouse.com/archives/SwampFox.shtml
Originally on: ABC (60 min.)
Status: Ended Premiered: October 23, 1959 Last Aired: January 8, 1961
Show Categories: Action/Adventure, Drama
"Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, tail on his hat. Nobody knows where the Swamp Fox's at..." So begins the legend of 'The Swamp Fox'. In reality, this Revolutionary War hero was Colonel Francis Marion--a semi-renegade patriot with an ax to grind with the British. The series takes us through the life of this hero, and gives us a glimpse into the lives of the men and women who helped make this country...
starring Leslie Neilson.


Wes had us all running around the yard singing the theme song (one of the earliest songs I recall singing) and chasing the British out of the neighborhood.