Day 211: Do Not Return to Sender

2026-09-05Hello!This horseshoe crab (and a few others) was resting on the sand. I'm not sure if it's alive, but the book I was reading happened to tell a story about "kind but ignorant guests" that interrupted the animal's mating behavior by chucking it back into the sea. I left the horseshoe crab alone.This book was tough to get through, because it demanded my full attention — my usual trick of plugging in earbuds, with or without music, was not enough on a busy commute. I had to be home, I had to be alone.But it was worth it.Before I talk about the book itself, a few words on the photograph: I realize that the stereotypical "one object in color, the rest in monochrome" style is overused. The classic example is a yellow taxi against a contrasty black and white streetside. I've used that style and effect before... more than once. And then this is the third time.Finally, a book recommendation. The Edge of the Sea by Rachel Carlson is a 1950s account of the eastern US shoreline ecology.…