Conditional Reality

We donned fish costumes and ran with the salmon. Some of us saw this as a meaningful way to end our days. Others were more interested in the freedom ride, shape changing from sea life to fresh water creatures, feeling the rush of the elements over our perfect forms. We all approached the endeavor with solemnity and a deep respect for the ritual. All except the youngest of us, who laughed while dodging bear paws and whooped and hollered while climbing fish ladders and leaping over white water. We let them swim on and embraced the comfort of the end.