August 31st, 2012
Summer, 7pm
Fort Desoto State Park, Florida
Essay 1
I am sitting at an aging picnic table at Fort Desoto State Park, in the historic town of Fort Desoto, located in the warm, humid state of Florida.The park ranger drives by and nods towards me, as he makes his daily evening rounds, locking down the campground trashcans in a continuing effort to keep away the raccoons. I think for a second what a wonderful job that would be- driving a golf cart around a heavily shaded campground located on the Tampa Bay. I'm slightly jealous that he gets to watch the sunset along the bay every night. Part of me realizes his job probably has downsides too. After all, summer tourists can be quite obnoxious- even I can admit this.
A rustling sound shivers up the palm tree behind me. At first I suspect the overly-friendly squirrel that has been relentlessly begging me for food the past week that I've been camping here. Alas, it's just another lizard. I don't mind, as I love all animals and have kept a variety of strange pets my entire life. From dogs and cats to rats and lizards, I will always be a lover of nature and animals.
While staring at this black spotted lizard, something else catches my attention. It's strange, yet entirely normal. An army of red fire ants, trotting up and down the tree trunk, as well as across the picnic table on which I sit, right down to the gravel road. I've never noticed a string of ants this large before. It's like a freeway filled with insects.
Then, an amusing thought pops into my head. I think of the brilliant, elaborate houses on the beach, and how people would actually spend millions of dollars just to be close to the water. Then I think of the nature that lives here, and has lived here, for hundreds of years. How silly that these ants and squirrels have their own free ocean-front property, and they don't even realize it. Do they even care? Does the squirrel ever just sit on his tree branch, and stare out into the vast body of water, recognizing it for it's beauty? Or is it too afraid of being gobbled up by a pelican to even come close to the water?
I think it's sad that I'll never know the answer to that question.
Class Discussion
If I had to discuss something with the class, I would wonder if they ever had questions they wish they could ask animals or wildlife. I know I do, all the time.
My response to "Living Like Weasels"
I believe "Living Like Weasels" is about the effect society has on shaping who we are. It's almost a phenomena that an entire world has such a uniform idea on how to "act human." Humans are taught by society to ignore their natural instincts, while any other type of wildlife would never go against their instincts. That idea makes me ponder things I do everyday. A few weeks ago, I was in the car with my boyfriend and pulled up to a red stoplight. After a few moments, I turned to him and said, "Why am I even stopped at this red light? Because society tells me to? Why don't I just run it?"
He responded, "Because the police will arrest you."
I suddenly blurted out, "Who gives the police the right to even apprehend me? The government? Who is the government? A bunch of people in stupid suits?!" My boyfriend stared at me as if I was joking, but I truly wasn't. That was the first instinctual thought I had.
To be fair, I've always had a Libertarian streak in me. When I was a teenager I used to get into arguments with the police when they would try to kick me out of the local public parks once nightfall hit.
"The public parks close at dark!" The cops would say.
"Nature doesn't close at dark! It's still here! The trees don't put up 'Sorry, We're Closed' signs, do they? No! Nature never closes!" I would respond.
For the longest time, I thought there must be something wrong with me for going against the grain so often. However, when I read things like, "Living Like Weasels," it makes me feel as if maybe I'm not so different after all. There is someone out there who questions society as much as I do. It was a comforting read, to say the least.
