If only we knew

Message:

I had a rather Tom Sawyer childhood created by a creek (Accotink) and woods that was later clear-cut and converted to a park. The creek too was straightened and that changed the ecosystem. But before then, we caught all manner of small life from strange water spiders to blue crayfish. Now I find out science never knew there were blue freshwater crayfish.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/10/05/new-blue-crayfish-species-tennessee/

We might have heralded a scientific discovery. But then the feds would have come in and stopped us from doing all the things to that creek that we did. e.g. Temporarily dam and bridge the waterway. It would flood during Hurricanes and then we would swim in the flood plain. A fine time among the leeches. Was a full life, even being slack-jawed with rickets. Cue banjo music.

Yours,