Rare and Interesting Creatures

This morning I was laying in bed, pretending NPR wasn't insisting i go to work. A story came on about a scientist's futile quest to capture and tag a narwhal.

A narwhal is a a nearly mythical animal, one of the more mysterious of sea creatures, equal parts whale and unicorn. They are shy, intelligent animals and are only very rarely caught in nets and fitted with GPS tracking devices. They clearly don't like people or nets and avoid them both meticulously.

One narwhal described in the story got very close to a net, causing the whole tagging team (who had been patiently waiting for months to catch one) to suit up and prep for success. But, at the last minute, the graceful animal changed directions and glided away unscathed. I imagine the team sat silently for several minutes after that, reassessing the reasons they even try.

Ahhh, how many things in life are just as illusive?! Just when you think you've got it/him/them, it/he/them heads another direction just out of reach. Strange.

Another bizarre animal story walking home after work: A very lazy cicada, nearly five years late waking up, was frantically bumping into the window of an Italian restaurant making a terrible racket. I wondered how upsetting it would be to get to hang out with my fellow species only once every many, many years and to wake up only to find out that no one bothered to nudge me. Sad.

The first thing i would do is head straight to the nearest Italian joint as well.

I met a man the other day who I think I might want to get to know better. He is interesting and funny, masculine but seems evolved. He is also a former Marine. Rare and interesting, indeed. Not sure i believe in unicorns, but...