HOW DO THEY DO IT?

There was this little ant crawling across the living room on the oak floor. It seemed to be minding its own business when I gently brought a finger close yet not touching it. He/she, whatever, knew something wasn’t right and scurried away.

Ask yourself, how did it ever know to do that? What is in its little brain telling it to get the heck out of there? Surely, I told myself, it must have something that warns it of danger. What tells it it’s time to eat? Do other things?

All this points to something that works like a brain.

Take it one step further and it’s not difficult to imagine every living thing has something that helps it think.

The smallest of creatures have some way of knowing what’s going on. They don’t move about like robots without some sense of ‘being’.

Author’s comment: It’s crazy thinking this way, that everything can move or fly on its own. No matter how small. The next time you see an ant, don’t step on it. Don’t whack an innocent fly, mosquito or whatever. Without thinking things happen that we can’t explain.

EAT WITH YOUR FINGERS

I had a meal the other night – seafood takeout - that came with no plastic knife, fork or spoon. It might have been a tad easier to use a fork. Not that it matters.

It reminded me of poking in the fridge recently for an afternoon snack. I came on this jar marked ANTICA ROMA.

Neither Rosanne or I could remember where the jar came from. It was labelled ‘Marinated Seafood Antipasto.' (454g.). The French version sounded even tastier: 'Antipasto De Mar Marnie.'

There were pieces of seafood inside with ‘Canola Oil. Vinegar. Lemon. Pulp. Citric Acid, Salt and Parsley’. The mention of ‘pulp’ always bothers me when listed as an ingredient. It’s a filler for sure. To make it look as if you're getting your money’s worth.

I opened it and stared at what turned out to be a delicious snack. It told me what I’d be eating: ‘squid and/or octopus; cuttlefish and/or shrimp. I was none to happy with the ‘and/or’ on the label. Why not just make it one or the other?

It also told me ‘Proportions may vary.’ (Les Proportions peuvant varier.’) I didn’t want to know that.

There I was in mid-afternoon hauling out bits of delicious squid, or octopus; shrimp or cuttlefish and enjoying every mouthful.

Author’s comment: You can only eat so much of this seafood specialty at any one time. Tasty but downright rich. Wash it down with a chilled white wine and it will make your day.