"Ain't gonna let nobody turn US around"

As we headed out for dinner yesterday, we took a careful look at one of the local tamarack bogs. The tamaracks are beginning to show color, but it looks like it's only about ten percent. The local weather forecast is mentioning another three inches or so by Wednesday. All this rain, and the limited leaf fall makes the woods pretty quiet. Neither squirrels nor whitetails make much noise walking, scampering or dashing through damp leaves. When the leaves are down and dry, the woods can sound like invading armies are marching through.

some beautiful colors are showing in our oak leaves

Photo by J. Harrington

Some of the oaks are turning unusually bright colors, at least before they fade to a milk-chocolatie brown. We've seen several notices about how climate change may improve Autumn colors. We've also seen a few mentions about how this is supposed to be an above average show of colors this year, although maybe a bit later than usual. Looking a photos from years past, we can confirm colors are developing later than we're used to. Some places have what might be really nice colors, if the sun ever arrives to show them off. Yes, we're displaying grumpiness because so far, we've had one of our favorite months turn disappointing in both the natural world and the unnatural environment of Washington, D.C.

Joan Baez at the "Nasty Woman" concert 2016

Photo by J. Harrington

Plus, we're feeling a little sad and nostalgic. The Better Half bought tickets to the Joan Baez "Farewell Concert Tour." Baez joins Paul Simon and others, including those like Pete Seeger who've already walked on, in reminding us how long of tooth we've become. Furthermore, we still remember her performances during the Civil Rights marches and the anti-war protests of the 1960's (told you we're long of tooth). We suppose that gives us reason to be agitated as we watch the need increase to fight battles, battles we once believed had been won. Perhaps those battles were, and it's the broader war that never ends, the one between good and evil, progress and backsliding, right and wrong. Don't be surprised if we return to some of those themes in future postings. Meanwhile, we'll enjoy tonight's performance, although it's only been a couple of years since Baez was here and we enjoyed her pre-election performance. We'll also remember what we read somewhere or other today: "Doom is inevitable. Gloom is a choice we make." Let's not get turned around into gloom.

Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around

Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me ’round
Turn me ’round, turn me ’round
Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me ’round
I’m gonna keep on walkin’ Keep on talkin’
Marchin’ to that freedom land

Ain’t gonna let segregation turn me ’round
Turn me ’round, turn me ’round
Ain’t gonna let segregation turn me ’round
I’m gonna keep on walkin’ Keep on talkin’
Marchin’ to that freedom land

Ain’t gonna let Jim Crow turn me ’round
Turn me ’round, turn me ’round
Ain’t gonna let Jim Crow turn me ’round
I’m gonna keep on walkin’ Keep on talkin’
Marchin’ to that freedom land

Ain’t gonna let Bull Conner turn me round
Turn me ’round, turn me ’round
Ain’t gonna let Bull Conner turn me round
I’m gonna keep on walkin’ Keep on talkin’
Marchin’ to that freedom land

Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me ’round
Turn me ’round, turn me ’round
Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me ’round
I’m gonna keep on walkin’ Keep on talkin’
Marchin’ to that freedom land

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