More thoughts in the time of COVID-19 …
As a wise Yogi once said … It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
Fire season … COVID … elections … autumn …
Last friday we had a touch of rain mixed with corn snow in the morning. Then saturday I woke up to snow covering the ground and tree branches. Not a lot. Less than 0.5 inch. But the first snow is always a treat. Out my window looked a bit like a holiday card. And, of course, it was gone by sundown.
But sunday morning, as I went out to the chickens, there was over an inch of fresh, pure white on the ground and the red carpet under the maple tree was hidden under a white base with colour spots provided in shades of gold by the cherry tree. I opened the coop door and the hens rushed out, as they usually do. That was followed by a traffic jam as the last of the bunch trying to get out met the first out trying to get back in. A Keystone Kop moment.
I think it is safe to say the danger of a massive, destructive fire is over for this season. Thank you for all the protective affirmations.
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Mark and Paul have been busy bringing in firewood. Paul finishes on-line school about 2:30, so after a play break and a snack, off they go to the drying yard. As of now, the wood shed is only about a tier short. And the solarium is working so we gather heat every sunny day.
It is a good thing the decision was made to keep Paul in home schooling. Last monday one of the teachers at the middle school was diagnosed positive. That means all those who chose to go back to in-person schooling, and their relatives, are now on watch.
This was a rather secure part of the state until last week when there was a burst of positives at the local community college and at the boys and girls club. We now have three cases in the hospital and have had our first death. Everyone is edgy.
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There is a new one on my prayer candle. A neighbor severed an artery just below his knee when a tree he was dropping fell a bit off. In addition to the bad laceration, the accident also broke a bone in his lower leg. Fortunately he was alert enough to put on a tourniquet immediately and the people for whom he was working got there quickly. Mark, as the fire company responder, was there within fifteen minutes. It was a miracle. Bleed out from an artery takes only minutes.
Our neighbor depends on the local food sharing programs and, of course, won’t be driving for a while. We are making arrangements to collect his weekly share and deliver it while he is laid up.
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More on the water issue …
Many years ago (at least 30) a new landowners diverted the water flow across her land which was fed by the creek on which George had our hydropower set up. That diversion took the flow off of one downstream neighbor and put it across another’s land. Those who lost the flow sued, but the court decided (against riparian descriptions … but that’s a different story) in favor of the new landowner. I had forgotten that situation until just a couple of weeks ago. Then it dawned on me and I realized it could have a rather significant impact on the current situation which took water away from us and five downstream neighbors.
So I went up to the courthouse, to the office of the Siskiyou Superior Court, to request a copy of the court decision in that case which likely would require the return of the water flow to the way it had been for more than forty years.
As seems to be usual in this County, there was nothing ready for me. I had called last week and been told it would be ready friday.
I got a bit angry, but stayed contained as I told them I had made a special trip north just to get those copies. I think the lady in charge of my request got the message. At least I hope she did. So the new plan is for her to call me and tell me it’s ready (I won’t hold my breath), or for me to call again the end of this week.
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Last evening was the first meeting of the new Landowners’ Association Board. For the first time ever, it is an all female Board. Challenges and chances.
Things did not go well. As the leftover Officer from the previous Board, I had decided on the agenda and planned an organizational meeting with a minimum of “business” since five out of eight Board members were new.
I was selected as President (not a surprise).
In the past, the Board meetings had gotten “loose” in that there was little structure. I had tried to correct that, as I was able, since taking notes for minutes under those circumstances was at best difficult (I was the Secretary).
I jumped into correcting that situation a little (or maybe a lot) too fast and wound up being insulted by two leftover members (who were acting under the old anything-goes mode) and being rude myself in a misguided effort to lead the meeting. Now I am making apologies and researching Robert’s Rules of Order and Association By-Laws to pin down responsibilities and requirements.
I still plan on bringing order to meetings, but will take it a bit easier.
First off … explanations of Officers’ responsibilities and possible changes to the By-Laws. I had prepared a packet of basic information for all Board members and asked that they read through it and be ready to discuss, comment, and offer suggestions at the December meeting. We shall see. I may be on the outside looking in.
Oh well …
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None of us are immune to life’s challenges. Do not be dismayed by the behavior of others, nor by your own inconsistencies. Our lives are all journeys through hills and valleys. How we move through them is what defines us. There are no mistakes, only lessons.
So, here I am … learning.
‘til next week …