Ants Crossing

Summary

A father reflects on a moment of philosophical inquiry with his young daughter about the consciousness of ants, inspired by their encounter with an ant in the Angeles National Forest.

Abstract

The author recounts a moment shared with his daughter, Stina, during a walk in the forest. They observe an ant crossing their path, leading the father to muse about whether ants possess the capacity for thought. Stina's innocent yet profound response, differentiating between red and black ants, suggests that the ants might be preoccupied with matters like marriage. The brief narrative concludes with the author sharing this personal anecdote as a testament to the depth of thought that can emerge from simple observations in nature, and he invites readers to support his creative endeavors through PayPal.

Opinions

The author implies that even the smallest creatures, like ants, can prompt deep philosophical questions.
He seems to value the insights and perspectives that children can offer, as evidenced by his daughter's thoughtful response to his question.
The author suggests a reverence for nature and the lessons it can teach us, as seen in the careful observation of the ant and the setting of their walk.
There is a subtle hint of humor in the daughter's answer, which the author seems to appreciate and find endearing.
The author is open to and possibly encourages reader engagement and support for his writing, indicating a belief in the value of shared experiences and community support in creative work.

Red Ants, Black Ants

Image by Author

Purpose on six legs some red some black proudly crossing the path Look out

Stina, my youngest daughter, was three (or was it four?) years old. We were on a short daddy-daughter walk in the Angeles National Forest just north of the city.

We took a sandy path weaving away from the parking lot and into what goes for greenery in Southern California. As we took a little break, a very small ant scurried across the sandy path, apparently quite intent on his destination. We studied it for a while. So busy, so sure of itself, so knowing precisely where it was heading. “Do you think that ants think?” I asked her.

Not taking her eyes off the little guy, she pondered this for a while. Then she looked up at me: “Red ants or black ants?”

Stunned into fatherly silence, it took me a little while to reply, “Red. Red ants.”

She looked back at the little guy for a while, pondered my question, then answered, still regarding him, “Marriage. They think of marriage.”

True story.

P.S. If you like what you’ve read here and would like to contribute to the creative motion, as it were, you can do so via PayPal: here.

Ants Crossing

Red Ants, Black Ants

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