Afterthought #97—Tools of the Trade

Every kind of work has its specific tools. For me, a good ballpoint pen, a journal, and my laptop computer are essential for writing. As I walked the grounds at the Whiteley Center during my recent writing residency, I discovered a few tools evidently used by marine scientists.

They remind me this is a working facility.

On one of those walks, I happened upon a sweet, small cove, laced with dried bull kelp and driftwood.

But wait, what’s that silvery white round item in the middle of the photo? I suspected it wasn’t a rock or some other marine specimen, so I scrambled down the rocks for a closer look and to snatch it from its pristine perch.

I’d like to think this drink pouch slipped off a kayak or another boat, unbeknownst to whoever slurped from it. Or maybe it blew off a picnic table or was inadvertently dropped on the ground.

Regardless, since plastics don’t fully biodegrade in the ocean, they can cause trouble—for decades or centuries—for sea life.

Graphic courtesy of World Wild Life Federation Website

*Afterthoughts are my blog version of a practice followed in some Quaker meetings. After meeting for worship ends, people continue in silence for a few more minutes during which they’re invited to share thoughts or reflect on the morning’s worship. I’ve adopted the form here for last-day-of-the-month brief reflections on headlines, quotes, books, previous posts, maybe even bumper stickers and refrigerator magnets.