Greggery Peccary Invented the Calendar

Sedona, Arizona – January 21, 2007

This morning before dawn there was a heavy snowfall accompanied by loud thunder.



The herd of wild javelinas left tracks behind our RV again. Javelinas travel in social groups of 6 to 12. They forage just after dark and before dawn for roots, berries, birds, rodents and snakes. The javelina, also known as a peccary, is a small hairy pig which burst upon the evolutionary scene about 32 million years ago and is thought to have migrated to South America about 9 million years ago after the Isthmus of Panama formed. They have strong musk glands above their eyes and on their backs. They rub together to establish a herd scent, allowing them to identify each other despite poor eyesight.


Frank Zappa wrote a 20 minute song titled “Greggery Peccary” about a clever young javelina that drives a red Volkswagen and invents the calendar. The calendar, upon release, immediately causes confusion and chaos, as people suddenly can keep track of time, figure out how old they are and plan ahead, making life aggravatingly mechanical.

The sun cooperated today, allowing us to take a long hike in the virgin snow of the nearby Red Rock National Forest and get the Sedona photos I had been hoping for.

We plan to drive to the Grand Canyon again tomorrow, hoping for sunshine, snow and photo ops…and maybe a hike on the rim.