Snail in the house.

The snail hails from mullusc lineage and belongs to gastropods clan. If one was an etymologist, will he translate it to mean a “creature shaped like a long narrow container, to safely keep its stomach, bowels and other vital organs”?

This is a pretty long description for non- descript snail!

Till few decades ago, the saying “born with a golden spoon or a silver spoon or a wooden spoon” was used to describe the social status of the affluent, moderate and the miserable. Being self centric, the linguists never thought to add “a born with a shell” tag and attribute it to describe something.

By this thoughtless omission, the species such as Tortoise, Turtle, Scallop, Barnacle, Crab and Snail feel ostracised.

To carry on with the business and pleasure, nature has provided Snail with certain special features - the shell what we see on its back.

The vital organs such as heart, lung, stomach, kidney and reproductive tracts are kept in this safety vault.

It lays  its own road for travel , a smooth path, almost like that of a magnetically levitating mono-rail car or a hover craft skimming over water.

The pedal gland dispenses the needed viscous liquid and the Snail slithers over it – a smooth ride, free of cost! Natural and a novel technique!  Eyes, positioned atop the anterior tentacles, give it a periscopic view of the land lying ahead of it.
Similar, periscopic - view sensor was fitted on the Mars rover- Pathfinder. In this aspect, the snail is a competitor to us – already has an eye on planet Mars!

The creator has given it “patience” as a virtue and a “slow and steady” attitude to achieve its goals. Mr. or Mrs. Snail believes, it to be prudent to work and live at the same place.
Probably this thinking made the snail to carry its own living quarters, while on the move. No worry about lease, rent and utility charges.

If you chance up on a snail and ask this question, “How are you able to manage at this slow pace?”  In all probability the reply will be some thing like this:

“I go about my business and living. I feel, this question must have come to your mind, probably based on the story of a race between a hare & tortoise. To begin with, that story itself might have been an imaginary one.

In my case another person might have repeated the race, mentally, between a tortoise and a snail for the sake variety.

He coined the word snail’s pace and you people bought it. But, I would say this – even this comparative epithet has a touch of truth in it. Yes, I try to win the race of living – at my own pace”

It became little serious and asked, “Why degrade me with the phrases such as – snail’s pace & snail’s mail? You create all your bottle necks yourselves and have a poor mail delivery system.

With all these shortcomings, is it fair to blame me, by referring to my stately gait & non-existent mail delivery system?

Is it not a snailful, from a highly contemplative creature?

The Snail busied itself in searching out garden moss for lunch or supper- unmindful of our presence. Truly an ISO 9000 creature – says what it will do and does what it said – going about its own business!