3.18.16 The wild winds

Down by the old Food Bank Farm, the almost-Spring winds whirled about, cleansing forest and fields, as the sun blazed and then disappeared behind those glorious clouds that raced across the skies. 

Down by the fields, tiny flowers ignored the possibility of cold and snow, opening their miniature white blossoms to the warm sunlight. 

As turkey vultures and crows and hawk alike crooned to each other, calling , as they courted and flung themselves off into the sweeping wild winds.

 

3.18.16 Mean Girls? Lord of the Flies?

Polarizing paranoia striking deep: It's interesting what creating the illusion of polarization does for us. There's a reason little kids do this. Us versus them. Triangulating, so that you have some instant close connection with somebody, with whom the connection actually doesn't exist.

I think that's what polarization is for. It's like a cheap trick shortcut, to be able to pretend that something is happening, that in fact isn't.

I think that's why there's so much fear, anxiety, and paranoia associated with making things up.

With many species, there is a survival related tendency to detect differences, of any kind, and then project danger onto those who have differences. To pull together with others who are more similar to you, and reject or harm those who seem different. Us vs them. 

Of course, these differences are relatively superficial. The crow with the difference in size, or flying ability, nevertheless genetically and physiologically shares great similarities with the other crows. But sometimes crows are uncertain, worry, unsure of themselves, and then differences become magnified, in their own consciousness. And that's when they strike out.

It's interesting that, for humans, there are developmental aspects to all of these tendencies. Most of us tend to experience these traits at young ages, and sometimes when we're older, if the circumstances are right. Think Lord of the flies. Think Mean girls.

But, all things equal, for the most part, we usually manage to grow up and mature. We manage to gain mastery over different developmental phases, that inherently held certain perspectives.

3.18.16 A fool's brain

"A fool's brain digests philosophy into folly, 
science into superstition, 
and art into pedantry. 
Hence University education." 
George Bernard Shaw

( I had to look up pedantry: 

n. slavish attention to rules and details )

 

3.18.16 Small places

Sometimes, there are small places apart, that are a bit tough to get to, without being seen by a predator, but once you get there, they become an oasis. 
This here is a Small Secret Skunk Sanctuary. And a small secret place for others, too. 
The volume of possible prey is small , the risk greater, going across broad fields. 
The land slopes a bit beneath the stand of trees, so water gathers, and the growth is lush, rich with insect and vermin and mosses and foods. 
The winged ones and the small creatures love this place , and in winter, you see the tracks, telling of the occasional forays they make to and from.
It's separate from the continuous great forest, then separated by farmers tilling and planting and weeding, come late spring.
It stands alone, rich and protective and fruitful, as the rains sweep down and the brash winds press through the trees and scatter water along the river nearby.
All these places have such ancient ways, known only to wildlife ,and not to us.

3.18.16 Turn in their sleep

     Long ago and far away, Lindsay (our very own Meriadoc Baggins) taught me a ream of stuff. From when I was 16-17. 

     She taught me about unions and protesting and The IWW and class politics and so much music and questioning everything with a fierce acerbic voice and the Holy Modal Rounders and Jim Kweskin and his Jug Band.

     She taught me about eclectic and insistent and tenacity and bring your own self no matter the hell what. 
     And all that somehow stayed with me and was woven into my life, from then til now.
     From high school to the walking sweet hills of Utah with her, to all the places we've gone off and landed and grown roots and selves, since.
     How magnificent , how imperceptibly we become a thread in each other's stories . From my first baby born, I raised my kids on all that music, which they learned to hum , as easily as they turned in their sleep .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuMDf9IEXp4&app=desktop