Yellowstone Biofilm
Part 1: Encounter
https://environmentalperspectives.webador.com/encounter-narrative
I had long since retired from the exciting field of microbiology and spent most of my time at my cabin. I built a small lab next to my cabin so I could continue experimenting and researching at my leisure. Friends, acquaintances and the generally curious would from time to time send me an unknown sample, or at least they thought it was. An expeditionist, Isaiah Cross, contacted me not too long ago and wanted me to run some tests on an unknown bacterium growing in Yellowstone. I assumed the package I received today was that specimen. Oddly enough the package was labeled in a strange manner and was sent from Mr.C. The origin simply said it was from Yellowstone, USA. The package contained a single vial which appeared to be a sample of a biofilm.
That night I had decided to set out on a hiking trip the next day. If I left around sunrise I would likely return home shortly after sunset. I often spent entire days hiking the area around my cabin. I had come to know the area intimately and felt connected to the beauty mother nature provided. Conifers covered the landscape and provided a home to a wide-ranging ecosystem. A small lake was a short walk from my cabin and I would often go there to watch the sun set. The trees reflecting off the water as the sun dipped below the horizon was how many of my days joyfully ended.
I set out for my hike early in the morning. I felt somewhat unwell but mostly attributed it to my old age. I continued on though, sure that I would improve as the day went on. It was sometime after midday that I began to feel overly drained as if I had been lost in the woods wandering for days without food or water. My condition was only getting worse so I stopped and rested. I packed a few sandwiches and fruit and had a nice lunch sitting atop a hill. From there I contemplated returning home rather than continuing. I figured I would give it a go and try but after a few steps the decision had been made for me. I would not be continuing forward and needed to return home immediately.
I began walking back toward the cabin but my vision became clouded. I was feeling light headed as well and my concern had reached an all-time high. I began stumbling trying to hold on to the trees around me for balance. Eventually I could stand no more and fell to the ground. The last thing I remembered was a cloud of dust around my face as I faded away. When I finally came around it was already night, just not that night. I looked at my watch and it said Thursday and I had left on Tuesday. For a moment I thought I was still in a fog and had merely misread the watch so I looked at it again, Thursday. I pulled out my journal and as I began writing in it, I realized what was happening to me.
I set out for my hike early in the morning. I felt somewhat unwell but mostly attributed it to my old age. I continued on though, sure that I would improve as the day went on. It was sometime after midday that I began to feel overly drained as if I had been lost in the woods wandering for days without food or water. My condition was only getting worse so I stopped and rested. I packed a few sandwiches and fruit and had a nice lunch sitting atop a hill. From there I contemplated returning home rather than continuing. I figured I would give it a go and try but after a few steps the decision had been made for me. I would not be continuing forward and needed to return home immediately.
I began walking back toward the cabin but my vision became clouded. I was feeling light headed as well and my concern had reached an all-time high. I began stumbling trying to hold on to the trees around me for balance. Eventually I could stand no more and fell to the ground. The last thing I remembered was a cloud of dust around my face as I faded away. When I finally came around it was already night, just not that night. I looked at my watch and it said Thursday and I had left on Tuesday. For a moment I thought I was still in a fog and had merely misread the watch so I looked at it again, Thursday. I pulled out my journal and as I began writing in it, I realized what was happening to me.
I spent the rest of that day crawling back to my cabin. Inch by inch my hands dug into the dirt and I pulled myself forward. For some odd reason I thought being home would make me feel better. My mind raced about contemplating the possibilities of what was happening to me.
I had finally made my way to my cabin and needed only to finish making it up the hill before I was home. As I continued to get closer to the cabin, I noticed a dense fog ahead. I gathered my strength and made one final thrust up the hill but I could not see my cabin. Pressing forward I stopped to rest at a giant maple tree I often look at through my kitchen window while drinking coffee every morning. Sitting with my back against the tree I looked straight up and could not see what was more than a few feet above me because of the fog.
I felt worse and needed to reach the cabin. I pushed through the fog in the direction I believed the cabin was. The further I went the more disoriented I felt and the greater resistance I felt in the fog. As I was crawling, I passed a flower pot and knew I was almost there. I thought about just getting in the cabin and making it to my bed but I had to know if anything had happened to the sample in the lab. Once again, I gathered myself and made it to the lab. I grabbed the doorknob and pulled the door open. I could not see my hand in front of my face but continued towards the direction of the incubator to find the sample. The floor was covered in a biofilm making the task that much harder. I made it to the incubator and ran my hand up it. It had become covered in the biofilm. It had grown out of control somehow overtaking whatever it touched. I made it back outside the lab and started back toward the house. About 10 feet from the house, I could no longer continue. I took out my lab book and made one final entry.
I spent the rest of that day crawling back to my cabin. Inch by inch my hands dug into the dirt and I pulled myself forward. For some odd reason I thought being home would make me feel better. My mind raced about contemplating the possibilities of what was happening to me.
I had finally made my way to my cabin and needed only to finish making it up the hill before I was home. As I continued to get closer to the cabin, I noticed a dense fog ahead. I gathered my strength and made one final thrust up the hill but I could not see my cabin. Pressing forward I stopped to rest at a giant maple tree I often look at through my kitchen window while drinking coffee every morning. Sitting with my back against the tree I looked straight up and could not see what was more than a few feet above me because of the fog.
I felt worse and needed to reach the cabin. I pushed through the fog in the direction I believed the cabin was. The further I went the more disoriented I felt and the greater resistance I felt in the fog. As I was crawling, I passed a flower pot and knew I was almost there. I thought about just getting in the cabin and making it to my bed but I had to know if anything had happened to the sample in the lab. Once again, I gathered myself and made it to the lab. I grabbed the doorknob and pulled the door open. I could not see my hand in front of my face but continued towards the direction of the incubator to find the sample. The floor was covered in a biofilm making the task that much harder. I made it to the incubator and ran my hand up it. It had become covered in the biofilm. It had grown out of control somehow overtaking whatever it touched. I made it back outside the lab and started back toward the house. About 10 feet from the house, I could no longer continue. I took out my lab book and made one final entry.
Part 3: Adapting
https://saraheconarratives.weebly.com/encounter-narrative.html
Part 4: documentary https://4betterecosystem.weebly.com/encounter-narrative.html
Part 5: https://jenayahughes.wixsite.com/ponderingnature
References
“Biofilm Bacteria.” Marshall Protocol Knowledge Base, mpkb.org/home/pathogenesis/microbiota/biofilm.
“Center for Biofilm Engineering.” Center for Biofilm Engineering - Center for Biofilm Engineering | Montana State University, www.biofilm.montana.edu/.
DR;, Kashefi K;Holmes DE;Baross JA;Lovley. “Thermophily in the Geobacteraceae: Geothermobacter Ehrlichii Gen. Nov., Sp. Nov., a Novel Thermophilic Member of the Geobacteraceae from the ‘Bag City’ Hydrothermal Vent.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12732575/.
“Biofilm Bacteria.” Marshall Protocol Knowledge Base, mpkb.org/home/pathogenesis/microbiota/biofilm.
“Center for Biofilm Engineering.” Center for Biofilm Engineering - Center for Biofilm Engineering | Montana State University, www.biofilm.montana.edu/.
DR;, Kashefi K;Holmes DE;Baross JA;Lovley. “Thermophily in the Geobacteraceae: Geothermobacter Ehrlichii Gen. Nov., Sp. Nov., a Novel Thermophilic Member of the Geobacteraceae from the ‘Bag City’ Hydrothermal Vent.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12732575/.