flies

Today I had an unusual interaction with a fly. It’s not over yet, and I’m pretty sure it won’t end well. I’ve had many interactions with flies throughout my long life, usually totally unconsciously, as I killed them in the quickest manner without a thought. But today’s fly was different. I left my basement office about 10:30 AM and went to the kitchen to make coffee. I felt great time pressure to get back to work as quickly as possible, and in this time of great stress for all with what happening in the world (what is happening…. just a standard communist takedown of the Western world) I was completely fixated on myself and in no mood for delays. The fly buzzed past and without a thought I lashed out with the back of my right hand and, amazingly, hit him hard. He bounced off the wall and fell by the toaster, obviously hurt. Instantly remorse hits me. I look at him, wishing I could back up 5 seconds and just let him fly by, and this whole scenario never happens. He’s trying to right himself, and one of his wings is now displaced somehow.  I wish I could just fix him and set him free again. Why did I do that? I’m 170lbs, he’s a few ounces at most, and the way I hit him was full of anger and violence and must have shaken or broken every solid object in his body. And all this without any hesitation, […]