Genetics became my all-consuming passion. I wanted to create the perfect species. One that doesn’t just live on our planet, but one that makes it better for future generations.

I plunge in headfirst. The water is warm. I will myself through all the pain and spasms to swim down. And down. It feels like an eternity until I brush against a sandy, rocky bottom with my fingers.

Northern Michigan is a tourist’s sanctuary. There are miles and miles of calm teal blue saltless silky smooth water and also miles and miles of million white-capped deep blue bottomless water.

Lake Michigan’s definitely moody. It’s not just bi-polar, but beyond schizophrenic. It’s dozens of surrounding lakes and waterways never know what to expect on a day to day basis. She is awesome at calm and awesome at dangerous.

Our mission is Mother Earth, not radical inhabitants.

I look up to see how far I have swum. The sunlight is barely visible, but still there. I then curl up in a ball and pray to the Lord to take me quickly.

One success can only be achieved with abundant failures.

You are all alone,” says the other little girl. I think she has the prettiest brownish red hair. “I guess I am,” I say. They both turn towards each other with a look of astonishment on their faces and then stare at me again. “You are never alone,” they say in unison.