Design: An Eyewitness Report

Each day there are many happenings around the agency that are blogworthy, but unfortunately not all make it to the web. This particular event, however, sprang forth from my mind through my fingers to your screen. Behold...

Imagine if you will, Deidre and I deep in discussion over a year end review and planning events to attack come January. My eyes widen. A giant, no... huge!...(okay quarter-sized) black spider, is creeping over the window above Deidre's unknowing head. Gazing at the lanky spider (at a safe distance), Deidre squints, "Is that a ladybug there?" The evil spider lunges at the innocent, helpless ladybug and begins devouring and working over its new catch. Stunned, Deidre and I observe the heartless laws of nature. After taps were played and a moment of silence spent, Deidre and I open our tear-stained eyes to find the vile insect has disappeared with its prey. To this moment, I am on alert to capture any stalking arachnid at the first scream.

I am reminded of a poem (simply replace "white" with "black", "heal-all" with "window ledge", and "moth" with "cute, little ladybug"):

DESIGN

By Robert Frost

I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth--
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth--
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.

What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small.


Happier news to follow...stay tuned