A Burr of a Thought

photo of coronavirus from twitter post The Agenda

The shape of these burrs I photographed on my walk this morning, the prickly specimens I saw through the lens.. I thought, amazing! Just look at those! The ideal shape for seed to be carried perhaps dropped from the host to the ground where it will take root and create another plant. Nature's creativity and brilliance in action, an adaptation fashioned by the ultimate design thinker. The simple but not so simple burr. A life giving shape in this case. But then, I couldn't help but think, when I looked at the image of the burrs later, and here I go again, this shape reminds me a little of the virus with its spikes and crown characteristics, but instead a disease chose a similar ingenious shape for its contagious and destructive mission. Although not exactly considered life or "alive"...it, as in the virus, must have life, human life, as its host sabotaging the health of its victim. In some cases a life taking process..the very opposite quest as sought by the simple burr. I was once told, by an honest but slightly frustrated friend, "Cheryl, you think too much."
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He was right. At times I do. That can be a good thing, but sometimes a rest from my not always constructive overthinking might be healthy and worthwhile.   But then again considering  Richard Dawkins who in his book, "The Blind Watchmaker" pointed out the natural urge to think and associate and referred to the human mind as  "the inveterate analogizer"it could be my own urge to create links and associations has evolved quite naturally..one thing relating to the other a few thoughts or found metaphors picked up in the woods sticking and carrying the seeds of an idea that might eventually have the opportunity to bloom in some other garden.
A family of geese crossed carefully in front of us as we were walking down the path, we stopped, I took a few shots. The hikers coming the other way quietly kept their distance and we all watched smiling as the geese carefully made their way from one pond and into the other. Passages across. Interesting. I must think more about that.

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