its all about the little things in life..

I can relate to what Smith discusses in his article because I too, enjoy the little things in life. I've experienced a lot in my life and I have learned over the years to appreciate every little aspect of my life. Smith tells of how he always had a lot of pets and admired animals, but he later in life became fascinated by the little creatures that reside in ponds. When listing the pets that he has had, he mentions that he has not had an ant farm, and regrets it. There are so many animals worth observing that go beyond the normal eyesight. Just because a creature is small, doesn't mean that their worth is insignificant.

The term "animalcules" was defined by Antony van Leeuwenhoek "to describe what he saw in microscopes"(257). Smith is amazed while observing the life within pond waters because it is such a complex world. He states, " ..I like to spend some time below the world's surface and remind myself just how uncanny and improbably this thing called life really is. It's a good exercise for creatures of habit such as ourselves, who too often neglect worlds other than our own, and forget, too, that there are worlds within worlds nearly everywhere we turn," describing his fascination. I am just as amazed as Smith is at how complex these creates are. When he describes the Daphnia, "..has everything required for life as we humans know it-eyes, heart, breain, muscles, stomach, arms, and legs-all packed into a shell two millimeteres long", I am amazed. I can see why Smith takes so much interest in these little creatures.