In the Stephen Schwartz musical "Wicked," the showstopper “Defying Gravity” comes at the end of the first act when Elphaba demonstrates, through song and by taking flight, that she has gained the confidence and self-worth to do what she knows is right.
Yes, it is a rigged system, but this song has inspired countless girls and women.
But when I hear it, I can’t help but think of squirrels.
At Interlochen, when it comes to defying gravity, it’s hard not to think of squirrels.
Our distinctive black squirrels are actually just a color phase of grey squirrels, but regardless of color, these bushy-tailed creatures exhibit no fear of heights.
Rather than defying gravity in the stately pines, squirrels leap from branch to branch of mature oaks, beech and maples. Or from buildings, or out of trash cans.
Their long tails act as counterweights for maintaining balance as they travel from tree to tree, using forest canopy “highways," which often are high.
And occasionally, a squirrel does fall.
But does a squirrel get hurt? Never! Well, hardly ever.
Without getting into physics, I can tell you the squirrels are quite light and fluffy and when they fall, they instinctively spread their limbs and tail like a sail ,creating wind resistance. That slows them down.
Their terminal velocity is slow enough that they are not injured at impact.
Consequently, when it comes to defying gravity, squirrels are unlimited.
