Refreshing thaws and paws in the winter’s season

These above freezing temperatures have me almost giddy. The dogs are enjoying our walks and spending much more time sniffing their way around. Neither has hobbled back to the house for the past couple of days. May all of next year’s weather be at least as pleasant as the last few days.

looks that say “do we have to go out?"

Photo by J. Harrington

The tactic of taking down the bird houses so the birds won’t congregate and attract a hawk seems to be working. At least we’ve seen few songbirds and no hawks so far today. I’m thinking New Year’s Day will be a good time to return the feeders to their hangers.

I’m starting to think of the “good old days” as the times when life had a more not less stable rhythm to it, one that lasted for more than ten minutes or so; when seasonal weather was predominantly seasonal; when your chances of arriving on time, or close to it, taking an airline flight were more than random. I have very strong doubts that human evolution has prepared us for the degree of volatility we’ve injected into daily life. I’m also deeply concerned by the inadequacy our institutional and governmental responses. So, in accord with my efforts to be more positive than not in my recent postings, I want to close out this year with a recommendation that we all seriously consider the arguments made by David Whyte in Ecocide – Kill The Corporation Before It Kills Us. You can read a more detailed review here.

Once the holiday season has passed, I intend to read the book and, if it’s as telling as I expect, devote some time and postings here to exploring how to do what the title calls for. I’m positive that allowing thieves and charlatans to hide behind corporate shields is not the way to restorative development or a sustainable future.

Revolutionary Letter #3

Diane di Prima - 1934-2020

store water; make a point of filling your bathtub
at the first news of trouble: they turned off the water
in the 4th ward for a whole day during the Newark riots;
or better yet make a habit
of keeping the tub clean and full when not in use
change this once a day, it should be good enough
for washing, flushing toilets when necessary
and cooking, in a pinch, but it’s a good idea
to keep some bottled water handy too
get a couple of five gallon jugs and keep them full
for cooking

//

store food—dry stuff like rice and beans stores best
goes farthest. SALT VERY IMPORTANT: it’s health and energy
healing too, keep a couple pounds
sea salt around, and, because we’re spoiled, some tins
tuna, etc. to keep up morale—keep up the sense
of ‘balanced diet’ ‘protein intake’ remember
the stores may be closed for quite some time, the trucks
may not enter your section of the city for weeks, you can cool it indefinitely

//

with 20 lb brown rice
20 lb whole wheat flour
10 lb cornmeal
10 lb good beans—kidney or soy
5 lb sea salt
2 qts good oil
dried fruit and nuts
add nutrients and a sense of luxury
to this diet, a squash or coconut
in a cool place in your pad will keep six months.

//

remember we are all used to eating less
than the ‘average American’ and take it easy
before we
ever notice we’re hungry the rest of the folk will be starving
used as they are to meat and fresh milk daily
and help will arrive, until the day no help arrives
and then you’re on your own.

//

hoard matches, we aren’t good
at rubbing sticks together any more
a tinder box is useful, if you can work it
don’t count on gas stove, gas heater
electric light
keep hibachi and charcoal, CHARCOAL STARTER a help
kerosene lamp and candles, learn to keep warm
with breathing
remember the blessed American habit of bundling

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