Another Chris-in-the-morning … with the sun coming through the east window at 0714 …
Back in ’93 Chris said …
Ol’ earth’s played out. Last year China had to close Mount Everest. Too much litter. The world’s become a fragile place – not to be conquered but to be protected, coddled, nursed like a baby.
And this year people were forming long lines to climb Everest. How many dead? How many tons of trash?
When I was younger I often dreamt of traveling to see wonderful places. Not any more. I see no need to form a queue to take a picture of a bunch of other tourists. Maybe someone will perfect and offer virtual reality tours where you are the only one there. Maybe even while I’m still here to enjoy such a trip.
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Kamille and Paul left for two weeks back east yesterday morning. Typical empty-house syndrome this morning. They’ll be gone nearly two weeks.
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Beginning last saturday morning, the sky was grey and the sunlight was red-orange from fires in Oregon. The smoke from Alaska hasn’t reached us, at least not visibly.
Yesterday the air smelled of smoke.
This morning I can’t see the surrounding mountains.
There has been word that the Oregon Shakespeare Festival may abandon the outdoor theatre due to smoke. I hear that last year they lost nearly a quarter of their scheduled performances to bad air quality.
And another century old tradition drops by the wayside. It won’t really affect me since the prices have gotten so high I haven’t been able to afford to go for years. When we first came to this area, I could get a festival membership and two tickets (5th row center) to every performance for less than $300. Now $300 will buy four 5th row center tickets.
Oh well … they’ve been doing less and less Shakespeare anyhow. Maybe the name needs to change from “Oregon Shakespeare Festival” to “Oregon Broadway West”.
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The water situations are just under the boiling point. As I’ve told you, I’m involved in two situations. This evening I go to a meeting of the WaterMaster District Board in re the road situation.
The water situation in California is almost as big a problem now as it was at the turn of the century when the Tylers lost their stake in the Owens Valley.
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I am still touched by the sounds of the train going past at dawn. Maybe I’ll be able to take a trip again sometime … if I can find a place to go.
I remember traveling by train with my older grandchildren. We came west twice … once on the Empire Builder across the northern states through Glacier National Park (when there were still glaciers) from Chicago to Portland. Another time on the Zeypher across the middle plains, over the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas.
I’ve read about old time train travel when they traveled during the day and stayed in railroad hotels at night. That would have been nice. Makes me think of traveling south of Dunsmuir. When going straight through this area you miss some of the best scenery … Shasta Lake and Mt Shasta. Going south you leave Dunsmuir (our closest Amtrak stop) at midnight and so miss the scenery down the canyon to Redding. Coming north you arrive about 0500 and miss the canyon as well as the awesome view of Mt Shasta from the south.
It would seem beauty is no longer a priority. Of course, at this time Amtrak is having to deal with Union Pacific which is reluctant to allow any rolling stock other than their own on their tracks.
And that is why we won’t be seeing the 4449 through here again anytime soon. Maybe the family can make a trip to Portland sometime. That’s where the 4449 lives.
At least I can still enjoy the early morning sounds …
Sleeping with the window open
Makes for aural awakenings.
Small bird sounds as
First light strikes the sky . . .
Soft rhythmic breaths of
The partner beside me . . .
Barely heard whistle of
A train across the valley. . . .
Gentle rustling in the grass
Of the dog on patrol . . .
Incomparable call of the geese
Flying north to mate . . .
Subaudible movement in the trees as
The air begins to warm . . .
Ears awaken first and lead the way
Into the day.
~~~
A random post on the internet last week set me to thinking (nothing new there). This time I was thinking about physically touching others, specifically hugs.
I’m a hugger.
I give them … maybe too often.
And I didn’t know how important they are to me until I reached a place in my life where they are no longer available.
My day used to begin with a hug as I went down the stairs in the morning. George was always up about half an hour before me and would be waiting for me with a glass of orange juice, a smile, and a hug … often with a kiss as well.
Throughout the day there were usually random touches and hugs on passing, and the day ended with a kiss and a hug just before sleep. Now I live with a family of non-huggers and I really miss it.
I remember reading, years ago, about old people in care situations who fade without physical touch, other than routine by care givers, and about people who visit care homes just to give hugs … which makes me wish I had hugged my parents and grandparents more often.
I also read about people who stand in public places with signs offering free hugs.
Maybe, when the hunger gets too bad, I’ll become one of those people …
~~~
Still no pictures, but I am looking for a tutorial.
So …
Teach us to walk the Earth as relatives to all that live.
… Sioux teaching
‘til next week …