Coexisting

So I vaguely remember Bush saying something along the lines of fish and humans coexisting peacefully. And I guess that could slightly apply to this, except I would hope I sound a bit more educated in my statement...

When you drive past the various forest preserves throughout Chicago, do you ever peer in through the trees to see if you can see deer or anything else? Whenever I'm not driving--actually, even when I am driving--I stare down the forest preserve, searching for some form of animal life. Why? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. I know I'm not looking for proof that they're in there, because I know they are. I guess I just like to get a glimpse of them whenever I can. Because every single time I see a deer, I go crazy, mainly because I'm so used to being in the city day and night. And when I see a deer or two, I instantly feel like I'm miles and miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city. And when I take a step back, it's weird to think that the animals live so close to humans, because I'm so used to them being in secluded forest preserves and prairies that we only venture into when we have an entire day free to drive out there.

About a year and a half ago, my mom and I drove out to Iowa for a quick college visit. Most of the trip was empty country highway, with rows of crops on either side of the road. We past some forestry, but we didn't see any animals really. That's why we both thought it was hilarious that the first deer we saw was right by the 25th Avenue exit on the Eisenhower. There we were, having just driven through all kinds of land not dense with people, but we see the deer just off of a busy expressway, right in the middle of rush hour. The only way he--or she--could have got to where he was was if he crossed the entrance ramp. So not only is he living there in a busy area, but he's venturing over streets that hundreds--maybe even thousands--of cars access every day.

I don't know, it's just a funny thing to me, animals living so so close to the city. I just always kind of had it divided up into two worlds--the city world, the nature world. I mean, yea, I know that animals live in the city, but those are "city animals"--squirrels, pigeons, rats, etc. Deer and bunnies are "nature animals"--animals that are off in their own little world. But I guess I'm allllll wrong.


Oh, and I found the quote:
"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."