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shiny objects

Tuesday, June 14, 2005


It's nice, every once in a while, to be reminded of one's place in the food chain. It brings one's ego down to an acceptable level pretty quickly.

While sitting outside yesterday afternoon, I decided to clip my nails before piano practice. A small pile of white trimmings formed at my side on the grass. Within minutes, a caravan of ants had clambored on top of the trimmings and begun dragging them away. For food, I imagine. Building materials, perhaps. Each ant took on his back a piece of my fingernail at least 3 times his length and surely more than twice his weight. I'm sure that my nails have fed the whole hive by now.

I suppose that's one thing I'll have to look forward to as I grow older: ashes to ashes, grubs to grubs.


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