The rain seems to have settled in and the days are a series of water, flowing, falling, ebbing. Six-hour windows of tide in, tide out, water falling from the sky, flowing downriver to the sea, and upriver on the incoming flood tide. The geese and ducks floating by in the rain-soaked air seem to say, “WTF? Are we swimming or flying?”
I will try flying. This year is about defying gravity. Are you ready?
p.s., Thank you for the most generous birthday president.
Indulge me for a minute.
When Europeans invaded North America, it held an estimated 220 million acres of wetlands. In the intervening years, approximately half of that was lost to development, “reclamation,” dredging, poor land-use practices, and, more recently, drought and climate change.
Wetlands are one of the most ecologically productive habitat types on Earth, providing a multitude of benefits to humans, including economic boons like billions of dollars in flood damage prevention and a place for the vast majority of commercial and recreational fish to spend some of their life (multi-billion dollar industries), not to mention millions of waterfowl and shorebirds. Five percent of the lower 48 states’ land area is swampland, and more than a third of all threatened and endangered species live only in swamps. Wetlands also filter and store water (a finite resource) and store one to three times more carbon per acre than forest or prairies – a significant fact given the current climate and its crisis.
This is a minuscule fraction of wetlands’ value, but it is enough to create the question, “What makes sense about draining the swamp?” Only foolish, short-sighted people would suggest such a thing.
What we need is a flyswatter.
Eliminating parasites (think mosquitoes draining lifeblood and introducing malaria) that inhabit the swamp would solve the problem.
And that is what voting is all about—one swat per person.
Full disclosure, I could not vote in the 2016 election because I moved and changed my address after the registration deadline (unknowingly, or I would have waited, but really, who could imagine the outcome?). So, this year, I encourage all those who did not, could not, or would not vote in the last presidential election to get out and swat some parasites. They suck.
p.s., November 3rd is not only election day; it is also my Birthday! Yay! I want a new president, please. And, thank you.
p.p.s., yes, I already voted.
The world continues in its surreal swirl of politics and protests, viruses, and fires.
The view from the deck holds sway; the fog, elk hunters, and fishers captivate me.
“In these difficult times” has become the new standard, but what was easy about the time before now?
Remember, way back in February before the Coronavirus pandemic really hit the US? Remember how houselessness was a huge issue? Remember how affordable housing, even for people with fulltime jobs, was problematic? Healthcare was unaffordable to most and marginally provided by employers and the government. The education system was underfunded, failing, and exorbitant—and leaving young people fortunate enough to go beyond high school in deep debt (hello, 12.74% student loan interest rates). While income rose, it didn’t keep up with inflation and buying power–even for basic necessities–was down considerably.
Migrant families were being separated and put into concentration camps. People of color were being killed in the streets. And let’s not forget the weekly mass shootings.
National parks were being considered for privatization. National monuments were being stripped of their protected status and the remaining public lands were being opened for mining and oil extraction. Forests were being clearcut; the timber often shipped abroad for processing.
The US was on tenuous grounds with most of its former allies and was cozying up to a variety of tyrants and miscreants. The president was bombastic, petty, and immature. Not to mention destructive, vindictive, and lacking any form of intelligence.
Tell me, how were those times not difficult?
This is just the surface and just one country. Many other places are struggling with their own national issues.
This added layer of self-inflicted trauma–yes, self-inflicted. I see you, out-of-state non-believers, without masks wandering through my town–may create the perfect storm of difficult times but from my view, there is no indication that the previous time was easy.
Is this phrase hammered into us as a means of making the pre-COVID world seem rosy? People want to go back to their normal lives, but what is normal about weekly mass shootings? What is normal about being houseless? And is that a normal we want to support? If that is normal, I vote for abnormal.
We have an opportunity to create something better. The world systems are breaking down – now is the time to lay the foundation for the rest of the 2000s. Now is the time to rebuild with everyone in mind – not just the elite and the wealthy. Start at the beginning. We all deserve dignity, humanity, and equal rights. It’s a good place to start.
Instead of saying “in these difficult times,” let’s say, “I see you. You are invaluable. We have work to do. Let’s build a new world.” Practice starts today.
p.s., My birthday is on November third. I want a new president, please.
Keep some perspective. It’s only 99 miles; it’s wild and scenic. Don’t forget to stop and hug the trees. And, go the extra mile, talk dirty to them along the way.
p.s., please apply liberally to fellow humans, hug at will. And, if you’re skeptical about talking dirty, at least say sweet nothings.
The air was alive with waxwing buzz this morning. Flooding in, like a masked mob, the birds jumped from berry to berry, before ebbing back to the big spruce when disturbed. How did last season’s fruit survive this long?
