I watered my mums in the dark of night last night (granted it was 8:15, but it was dark out). Mums intrigue me. They are perfect and the colors are fantastic … so making them die from thirst is not very nice. I didn’t grow up hunting - so killing anything (except flies and crickets … actually, most all bugs and mice and other vermin) is tough for me. There are snakes on the bike trails, and I will do anything to avoid running them over. (Primarily because a good friend of mine was biking once and rode over a snake, and it got caught in her bike spokes and was flopping upside her leg. The thought of this horrifies me and keeps me up at night.)
Since I got prescription sunglasses, my life - even though I can see more things - is way more difficult. I tell the story of when I used to pass this turkey on the trestle trail north of Ankeny sitting on a fence post. I was amazed and told a lot of people about this turkey. I figured that was his perch, and he really liked sitting there*. After I got my prescription sunglasses, I figured out that it was fake. And a fairly noticeable fake. I now have to recognize and appreciate things I couldn’t see before - like snakes and flowers needing water … and fake turkeys.
Ignorance sometimes is bliss, but more often than not - it’s embarrassing. Just because I couldn’t see the turkey was fake or I just ran over a frog, doesn’t excuse me from not knowing. It’s sometimes work to become educated or focused … but if saves a life or saves you from potential massive embarrassment - it's worth the effort.
*I even posed for pictures next to it and told strangers on the bike trail about this amazing turkey. Sigh.
