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Yesterday, for only the second or third time in the twenty-five years or so that we've lived here, we saw a ruffed grouse in the neighborhood. Today, during a mid-day dog walk, I watched a flock of turkeys sneak across the road, through the ditch and into the woods South of the house. [My intrepid dog, SiSi, never noticed them. She was busy with the smells right under her nose.] This morning, as I was rehanging the bird feeders, three Canada geese flew over the house not much more than treetop high. After a Winter with few visits or visitors, it's a joy to see the neighbors out and about again, even if they're not always maintaining a safe six foot distance among themselves.
Do you suppose it's possible that any time soon we'll manage to display enough (un)common sense to realize that the pandemic we're experiencing, together with increasing damage resulting from the climate we've broken, and the destruction being wrought by the sixth extinction on the ecosystems we depend for life, may be admonishments that we need to do some resets? There's well reasoned explanations why we need to take a very hard look at that question. Do you know the difference between an empty world and a full one? The economist, Herman Daly, explains it here.
If we think about living in a full world, should we consider the question:
How Would You Live Then?
by Mary Oliver
What if a hundred rose-breasted grosbeaks
flew in circles around your head? What if
the mockingbird came into the house with you and
became your advisor? What if
the bees filled your walls with honey and all
you needed to do was ask them and they would fill
the bowl? What if the brook slid downhill just
past your bedroom window so you could listen
to its slow prayers as you fell asleep? What if
the stars began to shout their names, or to run
this way and that way above the clouds? What if
you painted a picture of a tree, and the leaves
began to rustle, and a bird cheerfully sang
from its painted branches? What if you suddenly saw
that the silver of water was brighter than the silver
of money? What if you finally saw
that the sunflowers, turning toward the sun all day
and every day – who knows how, but they do it – were
more precious, more meaningful than gold?
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Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.
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