Gators

Photo by Toni Tona

Matt Kahn says, "Most people do not see their beliefs. Instead, their beliefs tell them what to see. This is the simple difference between clarity and confusion."

The picture on the left is a small section of the lovely grounds at Sawgrass Marriotts in Jacksonville.

A glassy body of water, freshly mowed, green lawns, meandering walk ways and an inviting gazebo. My beliefs tell me that this is a peaceful place.

Yet, book in hand, strolling towards the gazebo to read, I see the sign posted on the little blue post in the middle of the photo.

It reads, "NO SWIMMING. DO NOT FEED THE ALLIGATORS'.

Ever heard the sense of peacefulness crack?

I don't know much about alligators but I do know that I don't want to be eaten by one, especially not in the middle of a good novel. Ruins the moment and the thought of not knowing, for sure, if they ever catch the real killer in the mystery I am reading would make forever-dead seem like a really long time.

Sitting in the gazebo, looking up from the tome to the water as I turn pages, I notice little circles flowing out now and then. Bugs? A fish? A hungry, hungry gator? Did I just say the distinctive knobs of alligator eyes?

I believe alligators are dangerous. I believe they are sneaky. I believe they are kind-of fast on land but I don't remember how fast those National Geographic shows say how fast they are.

Photo by Toni Tona

Now, I know that I am probably not in any danger but my 'belief' that I am not in any danger is questionable. As I look around, there are no other guests in sight, though I can hear a leaf blower way off in the distance. Did the gators eat the landscape guy and the blower is just sitting next to the water on auto?

No guests. No landscape guy.  The alligators are probably full. Just the same, the humidity is climbing, I went to my room, and the air conditioning, to finish the book, knowing, that despite what I can and cannot remember from Nat Geo network, I'm pretty sure gators can't work an elevator!