LIFE AS FISHBOWL
Wednesday Nov. 19, 2014
Nature offers so many metaphors.
Easier to see barefoot wearing shorts, to experience not wrapped in boots and coats …
These metaphors must be everywhere because there is no lost horizon, no Shangri-La, just our towns, our neighbours next door, or strangers anywhere.
I stopped at end of my beach-walk to look in on some puddles – among the lava where some water and whatever was trapped with it, get to hang out for the day until high-tide rescues their contents. Little fish, crabs, invisible things too – all to be put back into their ocean, to be replaced by tomorrow’s captives. I could have watched longer but being hunched down on bended knee isn’t as easy with creaky old knees …
Each day begins with same ingredients – not just among us, but for each one of us; same number of hours, minutes, opportunities and chances. Same number of fish in each puddle.
Same situation on a million beaches, or towns and villages – those who are trapped by their circumstances.
Some are eaten alive. Some wait it out, and move on. Some live and die there, never to see any other place ever again.
Life in nature’s fish bowl, like looking through life for meaning. Either it is there, and we just can’t find it – or it doesn’t exist except in our brains where we feel this quest-need that gets us through our tougher days.
But all days are not created equal, are they?
No more than we are.
Notions of equality – similarity, are just plain bunk, aren’t they?
And, since we are so different, so obviously un-alike, how could anyone else understand us?
Mark Kolke
column written/ published from the Maui Kamaole, Kihei, Maui, HI
morning walk: 23C/73F, so much space and quiet; overnight fishermen pulling in lines, tidal pools full of tiny fish stranded till next high tide, calm … incredibly peaceful
Reader feedback / comments always welcome:
A friend from Marin forwarded your email from Maui. I so enjoyed it... Felt a sense of absolutely understanding your words -- first time I've read your "musings". What is happening with your daughter? I reconciled with my father many years ago after many years apart. Happy to help if I can – JP, Menlo Park, CA
