One beautiful, cloudy summer day, I laid by the creek. I lay sprawled, gazing at the clouds through the treetops. The breeze rolled over my face and between the hairs on my forearms as I took a deep breath in, enjoying the serenity of the moment.

A bee flew past my face, the subtle buzz of it's wings slowly fading to the sound of a CH-47 helicopter sweeping overhead. After a brief moment of silence, I heard the rotor blades fading off in the other direction, as if they landed and changed route. As I looked down to my feet, I saw flies that would...