I’m posting this image in honor of my sister who loved peering into shallow water to see what was going on down below.
Salt Creek. May 28, 2025
While we never got to experience these particular tide pools together, Katie, your life was fueled by curiosity and exploration so I’m confident you’d welcome this gift of Purple Sea Urchins & Co.
Happy birthday, sister.
Bald eagles are glorious and it grates that their image is so frequently combined with images of the U.S. flag, often displayed on the backs of loud, oversized, carbon-spewing trucks.
Ediz Hook. July 14, 2026
Today I offer these incredible birds without the distraction of stars and stripes. Happy Friday!
Today marks three years of genocide. It also marks three years of increased resistance to Israel as an apartheid state and occupier of Gaza. All around the world, people are united in opposition to Israel’s depravities that are live-streamed for all to see. In solidarity with Palestine, independent publisher Pluto Press has compiled a reading list of books published before and after October 7, 2023.
That list includes A Moon Will Rise from the Darkness: Reports on Israel’s Genocide in Palestine** by Francesca Albanese.
Albanese is the UN special rapporteur and has been ferocious in her documentation of Israel’s atrocities while pointing out who profits from the oppression of Palestinians. She’s donating all royalties from the book to UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees).
You may purchase a copy of A Moon Will Rise from the Darkness or you may download a free copy with the hope you make a donation to UNRWA.
Free Palestine!
** The title is a variation on a line from a poem by the Palestinian national poet Mahmoud Darwish, a metaphor for hope and strength even in the darkest of times. The cover features a painting ‘Children of Gaza Dreaming of Peace’ from Malak Mattar, a Palestinian artist from Gaza.
This morning Zippy had his first PT appointment following his knee surgery and because he can’t drive, I took him there. While the therapist worked with Zippy, Emma and I explored the neighborhood surrounding the clinic. It was new territory for us. She found many, many scents to sniff and I got to admire some gardens, including one with two large pots holding blueberry bushes (one bush per pot). I was stunned / envious to see the multitudes of berries–both ripe and not-yet-ripe–on those bushes. So many blueberries! Our blueberry bushes have pretty much stopped producing for the season (although I picked a big container of raspberries last week). Still, I refrained from reaching through the fence to pluck a berry.
As we wandered the neighborhood, I saw two yard signs for the local Christian nationalist candidate farther down one street. I mumbled to myself then aimed my attention elsewhere. A while later, we accidentally ended up walking past that house on our return trip. More mumbling before again turning away. Aha!
Subaru Forester with this message written in pink across the back hatch window: The Only Good Nazi Is A Dead Nazi. Mad?–cry harder, nazi. Resist fascism!
This car was parked in the driveway across the street from the home with the candidate signs, the message “aimed” directly at the Christian nationalist sympathizer home.
My smile was big as Emma and I continued our walk. Soon, we passed this vehicle:
Rear passenger window of a parked vehicle showing the character Michael Myers (from the Halloween movie franchise) holding a bloody knife.
After quick internet sleuthing, I now know that’s the character from the Halloween movies. But my initial reaction upon seeing this was: people are not happy these days and good on them for not pretending otherwise. I have a long history of feeling stabby. They even named a bus in my honor.
After seeing the anti-nazi message and the stabby guy? Well, I felt less stabby. You might even say those two sightings put a pep in my step. I applaud the anti-nazi household for saying it loud and clear, and am grateful to the stabby guy for making me laugh. Well done, people.
Monday morning mood improved!
I found out yesterday that it’s now October! A while back I’d signed up for volunteer shifts at our local harm reduction center in October, but because I’ve been busy-busy with many things, I forgot about the shift until my phone chirped yesterday afternoon with a message asking if I still planned to come in. Whaaat? It’s already October?!
So, what’s going on around here?
Zippy had total knee replacement not quite two weeks ago so I’m now the only driver, grocery shopper, dog walker, yard clean-up person, animal appointment keeper, etc. in our household. He’s making slow progress and is doing a great job sticking to his ice machine and motion machine schedules along with his three-times-daily exercises. He starts physical therapy on Monday.
Emma our dog and Loki our cat continue to have health issues that require extra care. The good news is a friend gifted us some high-end cat food their cat can no longer eat and Loki is eating a bit more. The bad news is he’s clearly on the decline. Fortunately, he’s happy to “ride” Zippy’s lap during the motion machine sessions.
That photo was taken the day of Zippy’s surgery and he no longer has tubes coming out of him or uses a walker. He’s been using a cane for a while and this morning walked Emma and me up to the corner (and then slowly made his way back home as we continued on our neighborhood loop). Another change since that photo was taken is that there’s less room for Loki on the lap as the motion machine bends Zippy’s knee 120 degrees. We laugh about Loki getting squished as the knee pushes against Zippy’s chest, but the kitty seems to like the closeness. Good therapy for both of them.
I’m also busy (along with many others in our community) working to defeat a Christian nationalist running for a local seat. I’ve pretty much let go of organizing around electoral politics but this is a red alarm situation that demands all hands on deck. I cannot express how much I hope that person loses. (Accepting all good thoughts on that front! 🙂 )
As mentioned earlier, we won a six-month moratorium on data centers in our community but there’s much work to be done to make it permanent so that’s taking up bandwidth.
However, as soon as I hit Publish on this post I’m taking the rest of the day off. I plan to read and rest and snuggle with our furry friends.
So now you know what’s going on here. What’s going on with you?
* For all the Marvin Gaye fans, shout-out to the creator of this music streaming playlist that made me laugh out loud when I read what they called it.
Also? If it’s been a while since you listened to Marvin Gaye’s album What’s Going On, be sure to put it in the rotation soon as it’s just as vital now as ever. And if you’ve never listened to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, drop everything and listen to it now.
One year ago today, my oldest sibling died at home after a battle with cancer. Katie is gone but far from forgotten. As I told one of her sons this morning, thoughts of my sister/his mother pop into my head multiple times a day, at random times such as when I put on mascara or add broccoli to my smoothie or make my weak coffee that she always scoffed at as she drank what can only be described as rocket fuel disguised as coffee. I think of her every single time I spot the always delightful California Quails in my neighborhood. Honestly, Katie comes to mind during most every wildlife encounter I experience. We shared a love for nature.
I photographed this harbor seal last week and told myself it was maybe the same one that swam past me last September 23rd where I sat on a rock, watching the waves and crying after learning Katie had finally let go.
September 16, 2026
That day, the seal turned while swimming past and looked directly at me which felt like a message from my sister and brought me comfort. As did last week’s identification of this new-to-me Savannah Sparrow via the yellow streak on the head.
September 17, 2026. Ediz Hook
Why? Because Katie loved and was knowledgeable about birds, and would’ve been happy I’d expanded my knowledge base. Lucky for me, there are many, many birds I’ve never experienced which means she’ll be cheering me on for years to come.
Frequently, I regret consuming info from social media sites because there’s so much awful stuff being inflicted on people and planet. As a result, I’m making an effort to limit my time online. However, I just logged on and am SO glad I did because what I’ve learned has warmed my heart. Here’s a summary and timeline:
Macklemore (Getty image)
Yes, Ms. Rachel’s statement warmed my heart but I wasn’t surprised. She’s been solid on Palestine for a long time. (Nor did Macklemore surprise me since he’s been calling out the genocide since 2023). What did surprise me? Today’s events!
Today, Ed Sheeran not only lost the three opening acts on his tour, he also lost his touring band! Per the Chicago Tribune:
“Hours after Sheeran posted on social media about Macklemore’s ouster and attributed the decision to the tour’s promoters, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas posted on Instagram that they were leaving the tour.
“We are Irish people who understand colonialism.”
I admire the hell out of all these musicians who walk their talk. This is a huge win for our shared humanity.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.
Knew I’d been absent for a while, but didn’t realize it’s nearly a month since I posted anything or commented on others’ blogs. There’s a variety of reasons for that, including an elderly cat who has an uncanny talent for knowing when I’m on my computer. Loki reminds me of son, Zebu, who when young had radar for when I was on the phone and would also demand to be held. Since I have a standing desk, it’s hard holding a cat and typing one-handed. I’m literally doing so right now and it’s slow-going! This would all be much easier if Loki would use the sling. He won’t.
But isn’t this supposed to be a post about gratitude? It is, indeed.
Today I am:
Okay, I’ll stop before Loki wakes up again. Please, if you are so inclined, share in the comments something you’re grateful for so that I can celebrate with you. We need every glimmer of hope and good stuff during these difficult days. Solidarity!
Because there’s so much going on–personally, locally, and globally–I’ve been scarce around these parts. Whenever this blog and community popped in my head, I’d gently chastise myself for my absence and make a vague vow to post soon. This isn’t the “Hello again, WordPress!” post I’d envisioned (think high-interest personal story or gorgeous nature photography), but this latest development in the fascist playbook must be documented.
I just learned that while millions go hungry and people live in their cars (if they’re lucky), the Department of Homeland Security wants to spend up to $20 million to equip ICE agents with electric shock gloves. The so-called G.L.O.V.E. is manufactured by Compliant Technologies in Lexington, Kentucky, and is already used by some jails and police departments. (If you’ve been wondering if there’s a better alternative to ongoing state violence, I highly recommend Derecka Purnell’s book “Becoming Abolitionists,” which you can sample here.) These electric-shock gloves can be turned on or off with a button, and deliver a shock similar to a Taser (another horrific tool of violence employed by police). The only “positive” around Tasers is they’re higher profile, meaning bystanders can clearly see when a person is being “tased.” These tools of torture look like regular work gloves and throw the door wide open to already violence-prone agents to mete out additional horrific abuse.
Don’t worry, though. Per the linked AP article, Compliant Technologies offers a stern warning with the gloves:
I feel all better, don’t you? We know, for instance, how easy it is to identify a pregnant woman no matter how far along she is in her pregnancy.
Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy project director on policing at the American Civil Liberties Union, summed it up: “ICE spent the last year showing this country they are too quick to use force. Now they will be able to deploy electric shocks with the slight push of a button that maybe nobody else can see them do. Introducing gloves that can so easily be used to deliver terrible pain in encounters is a recipe for harm to the public.”
Every single day, another violent and depraved action on the part of this fascist regime. To quote Dorothy Parker: What fresh hell is this?
Thinking of you, sending love and this crocosmia bloom.
Front garden. July 23, 2026
Today I’m grateful for the delivery of these bottles of olive oil that strengthen my connection to Palestine and our shared humanity. They arrived from the farming collective known as Olive Odyssey.
Per Olive Odyssey’s About page:
Our journey began amidst the rolling olive groves of Palestine, where we aim to connect farmers from diverse corners of the land to come together with a shared purpose. Our mission is simple yet profound: to tell the story of the Palestinian people through the medium of olive oil. With each drop, we paint a portrait of connection to the land and a commitment to sustainable practices.
Their commitment to sustainable practices especially resonates in this very moment as wildfires rage and air quality is literally hazardous in so many parts of North America, not to mention the endless bombing and destruction in the Middle East. Knowing that Palestinian farmers continue to work their land and tend to their olive trees is balm for my soul.
Our roots are entwined with Palestine’s soil, and every member of our collective carries this deep connection. Born and raised in this land, we consider ourselves a family – a family that extends beyond borders to encompass every farmer, every enthusiast, and every plate our olive oil graces. Together, we form a circle of support, nurturing not only olive trees but also the futures of Palestinian families.
I’m grateful Zippy continues to purchase from Olive Odyssey, making us part of that circle of support for the olive trees and Palestinian families.
Free Palestine!
Today I received the gift of two Bald Eagles sitting on a moored timber off Ediz Hook. Upon sighting them, I hurried to the car for my camera and started taking photos from there, propping the lens on the roof. When I realized they were maybe going to stick around a bit longer, I moved closer and took more photos. And when it became clear they were just hanging out, I got closer yet and propped my big boom-a-roo lens on a log and sat as I snapped pic after pic. That’s where I was for this shot (click on images to enlarge). You can see their yellow eyes and the hooked tips of their impressive beaks.
I wanted to be ready to capture them in flight so switched the camera settings for action shots. Of course, they remained in place although the one eagle teased me by spreading their wings.
The eagle on the left did eventually fly off. Alas, those flight photos don’t do that glorious bird justice so I won’t sully this post with those.
Here’s the final eagle photo of the day, a majestic pose by the bird that stayed behind.
I’m so grateful not only for the gift of the eagles’ presence but also the last-second decision to grab my big lens before heading out. Oh, happy day!
Sandhill Crane. Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. March 12, 2024
**There are links at the bottom of this post: books (40% off!); esims for internet access; the American Friends Service Committee and their Action Hour; Boycott, Divestment, & Sanctions (BDS) movement.**
One thousand days of genocide. Shame on the world for allowing this atrocity to play out before our eyes. Where’s the sense of shared humanity with the Palestinians? And now also the Lebanese? The United States has been the enabler and accomplice as it shields Israel in the international court and provides bombs that accomplish the dual goal of genocide and profits for the military industrial complex.
Per “1,000 days of genocide” from The Wire (the newsletter from Jewish Voice for Peace), by April of this year the Israeli military had destroyed 90% of the residential neighborhoods in Rafah. And because the U.S. ignored the obvious genocidal intent and chose to continue funding and enabling Israel, that apartheid state has expanded its deadly campaign. As of April, Israel has also flattened 11,000 buildings in south Lebanon as it continues its reign of destruction. Israel not only wants to drive Palestinians and Lebanese from their homes and communities, it also wants to wipe out all traces of their existence. According to UNICEF, during this sham “ceasefire” that was declared in October, Israel has murdered one child in Gaza per day.
Fortunately, people are waking up. This past week, Rep. Diana DeGette, the Democrat who’d “represented” Denver for 15 terms lost her primary in large part because of Palestine. In March of this year, DeGette was approached by a constituent who questioned DeGette’s unflagging support for Israel. As you can see in the linked video, after offering weak excuses, DeGette told the constituent that if Palestine was the one issue she cared about, she shouldn’t vote for DeGette. Guess what? On Tuesday, a whole lot of voters didn’t vote for DeGette. The incumbent not only lost to 29-year-old Melat Kiros, DeGette lost by 13 percentage points! Kiros, a Democratic Socialist, received 21,000 votes more than DeGette who began serving in Congress several months before Kiros was even born!
That vote in Denver (and others around the country) have given me a boost. People are saying no to genocide and the status quo. We can and will create a just and equitable world.
Here are some different ways to be in solidarity with Palestine and Lebanon:
T & D’s poppies. June 10, 2024
And remember: from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.
Solidarity!
Female common merganser. Photographed Dec 28, 2025, from Olympic Discovery Trail
From Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Common Mergansers usually nest in natural tree cavities or holes carved out by large woodpeckers. Sometimes mergansers take up residence in nest boxes, provided the entrance hole is large enough. On occasion they use rock crevices, holes in the ground, hollow logs, old buildings, and chimneys.
Wow. Am I alone in being amazed to learn these large ducks can nest in holes carved out by woodpeckers and also sometimes wedge themselves into chimneys?
Sorry, but there’s nothing common about these birds.
Love this photo I took with my phone a couple weeks ago and am finally posting here.
Now I need to work on a much more wordy post on a topic that brings me no joy. Feel free to bask in the glory of this Daisy & Fly photo until I return.
image from AJD site
EDITED TO ADD: As of 7:27pm ET (Wednesday), there hasn’t been a vote so there’s still time to make those calls/send those emails!
Apologies for being scarce around here as I continue to recover from covid but I’m making an exception for this vital issue I just learned about via Adalah Justice Project (ADJ).
The following info comes from the ADJ (full text pasted below), but here’s the gist:
On Wednesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to mark up and vote on its version of FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The House just voted on and finalized their version which includes Section 224: the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative, which aims to merge the U.S. and Israeli military intelligence and surveillance systems.
Clearly, this would be catastrophic.
Please call each Democrat and Independent on the Senate Armed Services Committee (list below) OR send an email. Here’s all you have to convey:
I’m reaching out regarding an upcoming vote before the Senate Armed Services Committee. I want the senator to reject any measures that would merge U.S. and Israel military intelligence and surveillance systems. I just learned about this and am appalled it’s even being considered. This vote is VERY important and we need the senator to reject any such measures.
NOTE: if staffers asked for my zip code, I gave it and said I was calling all committee members because this is such an important vote that affects all of us.
Jack Reed (D – RI) (202) 224-4642
Jeanne Shaheen (D – NH) (202) 224-2841
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D – NY) (202) 224-4451
Richard Blumenthal (D – CT) (202) 224-2823
Mazie K. Hirono (D – HI) (202) 224-6361
Tim Kaine (D – VA) (202) 224-4024
Angus S. King (I – ME) (202) 224-5344
Elizabeth Warren (D – MA) (202) 224-4543
Gary C. Peters (D – MI) (202) 224-6221
Tammy Duckworth (D – IL) (202) 224-2854
Jacky Rosen (D – NV) (202) 224-6244
Mark Kelly (D – AZ) (202) 224-2235
Elissa Slotkin (D – MI) (202) 224-4822
You may also call the Senate switchboard to be connected to each senator’s office:
(202) 224-3121 (this is how I did it and it was easy-peasy!)
I wish I could provide a list of email addresses but each senator’s website puts that contact info in a different place and some only allow emails through their portals. (The above hyperlinks came via an action page at Center for Biological Diversity)
Thank you for taking action! ✊🏽
FULL ADALAH JUSTICE PROJECT text:
Last week, the House Armed Services Committee voted on and finalized its version of the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including a terrifying new measure––the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative (Section 224)––which aims to merge the U.S. and Israeli military intelligence and surveillance systems through “network integration” and “data fusion,” joint training exercises, and co-production of military technologies and weapons.
On Wednesday, June 10, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) is expected to mark up and vote on its own version of FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Although the bill text hasn’t yet been released, it’s likely the draft will contain a measure similar to Section 224 of the House bill.
Championed by the Israel lobby and Prime Minister Netanyahu himself, Section 224 would move U.S. support for Israel away from the traditional framework of military funding packages that require Congressional oversight into a shadowy maze of Pentagon procurement, licensing, and backdoor deals that are harder for lawmakers, taxpayers, and future administrations to track and regulate. If passed, the initiative will supercharge Israel’s violence against Palestinians, and increase surveillance and targeting of activists by U.S./Israel intelligence agencies.
Call the Democratic and Independent Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee NOW before Wednesday’s expected mark up, and demand they reject any measures aiming to merge the U.S. and Israel’s military intelligence and surveillance apparatuses. Senate members must push to re-direct public funding towards community services like healthcare and housing––not genocidal wars and bloated Pentagon budgets.
I’ve been scarce around these parts for the last several weeks as I recovered from covid. It was the first time I’d tested positive and today I’m grateful to feel (mostly) like myself again. Ever since the start of the pandemic, we’ve masked indoors which is a huge factor in why it took so long for SARS‑CoV‑2 to get me. And there’s a very good chance I know the source of my infection: Zippy.**
As shared at the time, on May 13 we were abruptly faced with saying goodbye to our beautiful Marcel, so when Zippy felt off that night we thought it was just a grief/stress-induced response in his body. Deep in our mourning, we didn’t even think to test or isolate. Then late at night on Friday the 15th, I suddenly had a sore throat. Finally, I thought to test. Positive.
Spoiler alert: the experience was no fun. Fortunately, we have good friends who brought us meals and medicine, flowers and notes, along with offers to help in any way we needed. It was Zippy’s second covid experience and he recovered more quickly (in part because he took a full course of Paxlovid while I only made it halfway through before having an allergic reaction that forced me to stop the treatment). I mostly did a good job resting my brain by staying off screens, but being a community organizer meant there were a few items I needed/wanted to tend to, which I did, as quickly as possible. “Quickly” is a relative term, though, when you’re infected with a virus that invades every single system in your body. No lie, I actually felt my brain getting hotter as I struggled to wrangle a few words for a short call-to-action. I’d already been turning down other organizers’ requests for help and that hot-brain sensation reinforced that decision.
Fortunately, reading books didn’t bother me and I embraced my down time by sitting on the patio, upper body in the umbrella shade and legs in the warm sunshine. I gave up reading the anger-inducing Blue Power: How Police Organized to Protect and Serve Themselves, and instead read a bunch of children’s books written in verse (non of which were especially good, in my opinion, so shall remain anonymous). I also read Rabbit Factory (which was my least favorite Larry Brown book, but since he’s dead I can say that without hurting any feelings) and David Grann’s The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder which was an incredible and horrifying “adventure” that never needed to happen and only did happen because humans are exceedingly greedy and violent.
I also took my camera out on the patio (just that one time, though, as it made my head hurt) and photographed some of the flora and fauna.
I also poorly photographed a black-tailed deer walking through the trees and shrubs about 15 feet from where I sat which you’ll have to imagine yourself. I’m currently kinda grumpy about the neighborhood ungulates because despite there being a forest right up the street, they prefer chomping flower blooms plus the zinnia starts I’d planted (the only thing I’ve planted since moving here). So, I’m in no mood to showcase deer right now. (Although I did try to photograph two new-new fawns while taking a walk the other day because they were so tiny and cute and not-yet-destroying gardens.)
Well, my eyes are tired now from this screen time so I’ll stop here, grateful to be upright and taking part in the world beyond my patio. I do hope you’re doing well. 🌻
** my guess is he got it while at the dentist on Monday of that week but we also briefly did some political work that evening in a non-ventilated room with a dozen unmasked people which means we could have gotten it at the same time and Zippy’s infection incubated faster.
On my garden patio, May 11, 2026
Today is Nakba Day, marking 78 years of ethnic cleansing visited upon Palestinians since the establishment of the State of Israel.
It began in 1948 with the destruction of villages, massacres, forced displacement, and the theft of their homes and land. At that time, more than 750,000 Palestinians were expelled or forced to flee, and hundreds of Palestinian villages were destroyed.
The Nakba of 1948 was followed by Naksa, the 1956 war, the First Intifada, Second Intifada, six wars between 2008 and 2023, and the current genocide being livestreamed for the entire world to see. Dr. Mohammed Khattab, born in 1945, was three during the initial Nakba and has experienced that entire list of atrocities. Rather than suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it’s more apt to label the Palestinian experience Continuous Traumatic Stress (CTS) as their stress is generational and ongoing.
Per Abdallah Abo Shamla, a 29-year-old supervising psychologist, “Trauma is deep-seated, yet there is no time to live it fully or move on from it. So we are forced into resilience.”
Much of the above (including my post’s subtitle “the Palestinian soul has no weight in this colonial world”) came from “For Palestinians, the Nakba Isn’t Just History. It’s Also Our Present” by Hend Salama Abo Helow (published in Truthout). It isn’t an easy read, but it’s essential we acknowledge the ongoing trauma of the Palestinian experience. By doing so, we give weight to the Palestinian soul in this colonial world.
If you have the capacity to further lend your attention and voice to Palestinians, please contact your representative to ask them to co-sponsor Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s resolution recognizing the Nakba and calling for an end to U.S. complicity in Israel’s violence against the Palestinian people. A letter template is in place which you may send as-is or personalize.
On this Nakba Day and every other day, my heart and convictions remain with the people of Palestine.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.
Even though we frequently joked about Marcel’s really big/long back feet, it was his heart that was supersized. Without a doubt, Marcel had the biggest heart in our household. He had love for every member of the family and not only groomed his brother Loki and Emma the dog, but often licked Zippy and me with his rough, pink tongue.
Longtime readers of this blog have been treated to many photos of camera-shy but oh-so-photogenic Marcel over the years. (A sampling here, here, and here, plus a Friday Five devoted to Marcel here.) This pic from May 3rd was snapped at bedtime to send to Zebu (because what better way to ensure your son’s sweet dreams than with an intense cat photo?)
Today we had to say goodbye to our lovable goof.
It all happened very quickly. Marcel had been listless and less active over the last several days and this morning, for the first time in the history of Marcel, turned down his breakfast. Our vet got us in quickly and the news was very bad. The options were limited and not-great, and the only one that made sense for our beautiful, approximately 14-year-old cat was to end his suffering. Breathing had become difficult and painful. We scheduled one of those sainted veterinarians who perform euthanasia at people’s homes to come help us a few hours later.
We used our remaining time together wisely. In a role reversal, Brother Loki groomed Marcel.
Marcel and I spent some of that time outside where he sniffed at flowers and took a few peppy steps in pursuit of a bee.
He watched two swallows perched on an eave. He even carefully flopped down to roll on the concrete, inviting me to rub his tummy.
Twice, I caught him “making kitty biscuits,” his front paws curling as he (an indoor cat) reveled in his outdoor freedom. He did not, however, exhibit his ultimate proof of happiness: drool. But, he did lick his paw and swipe at his head to remove the dust he’d collected while rolling about on the concrete. Marcel was fastidious to the end, even licking the back of his tail which Zebu and I had always teased Mr. Tidy for its yellowish tint.
Too soon, I was holding that soft, wonderful, big-hearted boy in my arms as he took his final breath. My hoodie is covered in his white hairs and my heart is struggling to process what happened so quickly and unexpectedly. All I know for sure is I’m forever grateful Marcel chose us way back in 2013 when Zebu and I walked into that pet food store where we’d been told two cat brothers were being fostered while waiting to be adopted. Marcel literally met us at the door and we never looked back.
Thank you for the years of smiles, snuggles, and games of fetch-the-elastic, Marcel. You were a gift to this family.
Here he is waiting to be fed because the brick on the food bin was there to prevent Marcel helping himself. October 12, 2023
Sandhill Crane at Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge, March 12, 2024
when stuff’s too heavy
I bask in these memories
glorious creatures
My vow to utilize this site on a regular basis–both by writing here and interacting with my WordPress friends– has obviously fallen by the wayside and today’s post is merely a documentation of the blooms in the vast garden we inherited a year ago, but it’s a step in the right direction on this anxiety-ridden day. These photos were taken two days ago and I hope the little glimpses of beauty brighten your day.
Rhododendron
Hellebore
Rhododendron
Tulips safe from the deer behind the vegetable garden fence
And last but not least, here is some red chard planted by Zippy. We have a friend we used to split a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share with and when we received LOTS of chard he’d then designate it “a chardy day,” and ever since, our texts always include “wishing you a chardy day!”
Red chard
In honor of Dave, I want to wish everyone here a chardy day! And may this week be filled with beauty, joy, friendship, and bird song.
The last time I posted here was two weeks ago when I lamented a city council member’s plan to propose a camping ban. Things did not look good. Well, I’m here with a happy update: this past week, the city council voted down that council member’s motion! And not only that, the council voted in favor of further research and discussion around sanctioned camping areas and sanctioned parking areas for those living in their vehicles! They’re also looking into additional public restrooms and trash receptacles! None of this is a done-deal but they voted down the worst of the proposals and in favor of some humane policies. For that, I’m grateful.
How did this happen? Community involvement! After an earlier council meeting at which people with the “lived experience” of getting clean shared their stories (which were very much in favor of criminalizing homelessness and insisting “the only way to get clean is go to jail and be forced into drug treatment”), it became clear we also needed to hear the lived experience of community members currently living outside. So we gathered statements from about 20 people without housing, asking a handful of questions including:
We then transcribed their responses and lined up volunteers to read the statements at the next council meeting. It was eye-opening to hear stories of a death in the family or a divorce or job loss or rent increase that lead to them living outside, circumstances that could happen to any of us. Equally informative was that the vast majority of people were long-time residents of the county, some for their entire lives, and that information poked massive holes in the haters’ lie that “homeless junkies move here because they have it so good.” Each statement read at the city council meeting ended with “What do I wish people understood about what it’s like living outside?” followed by insights such as :
It was a powerful public comment period, both for those in the audience and the volunteers who amplified the voices of the most vulnerable in our community. I can’t help but believe those statements played a role in this week’s vote by the city council.
Local activism for the win!
I’m sharing that here as both an update to my earlier post and because these days are so very difficult. It feels as we’re powerless in the face of all the cruelty and violence being inflicted on people, not to mention the very real threat of nuclear war. It’s tempting to check out. True, we have zero control over this regime or the actions of our so-called opposition party, something I find both terrifying and rage-inducing. But we’re not powerless. Each of us can work to strengthen our own communities.
As Mariame Kaba and Kelly Hayes and other veteran organizers say: pick something that matters to you and focus on that. For instance, do you have a public library in your community?
Libraries are under attack from those who fear learning and knowledge. Book banning has reached such horrifying levels it’s affecting children’s publishing. (An excellent resource for learning about books and book banning, including what may be happening in your state, is BookRiot.com.) Library budgets are being slashed, but there’s some recent good news. Librarians are losing their jobs and they’re coming together to support each other. There are all sorts of ways to get involved (my easy/fun experience is below):
My fun and easy experience? Yesterday, I gathered with others in our mutual aid group to support our local library system and we wrote 100 postcards to voters, expressing our support for a Proposition to restore the library levy rate (which would result in a $0.17 increase per $1,000 assessed value). It felt great to take action on behalf of our community. During our time together, I didn’t think about the smorgasbord of atrocities going on in the world. Instead, we talked and laughed and marveled at the gorgeous Eric Carle postcards provided by the Proposition organizers. Take a look at a sampling of those beautiful cards:
Eric Carle postcard sampler
As a parent who owned and read many Eric Carle books with my sons, it was a trip down memory lane. And it felt very right to use gorgeous pieces of art to ask for support of the library. Books literally save lives.
Okay, this is much longer than intended so I’ll stop here. 🙂 Thank you for reading this far. Please, if you’d like to share a sentiment about your public library or maybe a community effort you support, or really, just anything not-awful, I’d love to hear from you.
Until then, solidarity.
Today would’ve been my brother-in-law’s 73rd birthday and I’ve been thinking about and missing him an awful lot. As his sister said to me in our text exchange earlier, “He was the easiest person.” It’s true. As I wrote here, Bob was always my refuge. He accepted me for who and what I was, no judgments attached. I wasn’t special, though, because Bob was easy with everyone. That’s not to say he was a pushover. Bob fought hard his entire life for the most vulnerable among us. The thing about being in the struggle is that we win some and also lose battles along the way.
I know this and yet earlier today felt myself descending to a dark place. I’ve been collaborating with folks in my community to advocate for the unhoused who are being threatened with new policies that would further criminalize them for the “crime” of having to sleep outside, and today received a response to emails I’d sent city council this week. This particular member outlined policy proposals they plan to introduce at the next council meeting and those policies contained zero glimmers of our shared humanity, and instead focused on proposals to protect property and “public safety.”
I felt so deflated. And when soon after that I learned our local Planned Parenthood was shutting down next week, I wanted to curl up in a ball and pretend none of this stuff was happening.
Then Bob popped into my head (again). Bob didn’t give up. As was highlighted over and over at his memorial, Bob never turned cynical or stopped hoping and believing in a better world.
Apparently, he showed up in these glasses!
Today I am honoring Bob by refusing to give up on the struggle for a better world. Happy Birthday, brother. (P.S. Bob, please forgive me for posting this photo your sister shared with me today as I couldn’t resist documenting your goofiness!)
returned to the soil
true grassroots activism
mission: worm rescue
