Cryptic

Reading an article on the erroneous phrase "living fossil" and how it relates to Cryptic species. All the old taxonomy is proving inadequate to the complexity of life, how incredibly fluid and changeable life shows itself to be. The old certainties are gone, not because "everything was simpler then" but because we were. Those two orange fish look so much alike, they must be akin. Well, no, different families* entirely, we just didn't have the tools to understand.

We get attached to simple answers when we are kids, because so are we taught. Comforting, to know, to understand, this is a horse, that is a dog, this bird is blue, that cow is brown, and says moo. No controversy, easy. Lies of omission, simplification to the point of falsification. I worry most about those who hold dear the primary deceit into age, of good and evil, right and wrong, this is this and can never be that, and harken back with nostalgic longing to childish comprehensions.

Perhaps because my childhood lacked idyllic peace, I fail to understand the appeal. But I think I just love endless possibilities, a better answer, with even more questions.

I remember several places, store dressing rooms, a movie theater lobby, with mirrors that reflected each other, and I could stand between and see myself repeated into the distance, leading a synchronized dance. Each girl a little more green, smaller, maybe even ever so slightly different. Fascinated me, a sort of magic. A matter of perception and perspective spooling out different threads, endlessly pulling me into the future.





*Not family in the technical sense of Family, Genus, etc. A layman's use of the term to be vaguely poetic.