clams

So, the phrase: "Happy as a clam." Where did this come from? I spent at least four minutes pondering this tonight. Four minutes of brain power. Do clams just seem like over-exuberant creatures to everyone? I think not. To me, clams are just shells filled with living, writhing goop. Goop that I will never ever try to eat again.

But, really...clams can't smile - you've never seen a picture of them smiling, have you!?!? NOOOO. They don't laugh. They basically just mill around on the ocean floor, waiting to be eaten by sharks or other aquatic life or by us.

And what about the ones that can produce pearls? They spend their whole life nursing this pearl into existence. This perfect mother-of-pearl sphere. And when they have a perfect orb inside them, they are ripped open and their life's work is strung with a bunch of others around a plump rich lady's neck. This doesn't sound like a very fulfilling, happy existence. D-E-P-R-E-S-S-I-N-G.

I'm sure you all have labored on the very same question as to the meaning of this phrase. together we can find an answer. together. yes.