The Harem Plus Eight.....

After spending this spring weekend dodging a snow storm we are now looking at five days with rain and temperatures in the 40's. Sigh. I say it every year....in Wisconsin spring comes on a Wednesday. I do miss the years we lived in the mid-Atlantic states and had an honest four to six weeks of real spring. Oh well.

I woke early this morning and checked the radar on my phone.....we were in a clear spot so Fenway and I went for an early walk. Up the bike path at 6:00 under grey skies. Just past our condo building I realized two adult deer were walking toward us.....they stopped, ears cocked and let us get pretty close.....until Fenway spotted them, growled and raced to the end of his leash. They turned and took off running....white flag tails waving as they crossed the stream and went up the bluff across the street. For me, a successful walk is whenever I spot wildlife.

And so we continued up the path and I thought I saw some big black "things" walking ahead of us. It was a mini-flock of turkeys, the ones I spotted last week. I guess they've taken up residence along the bike path. It was the tom and three of his ladies....they saw us and began their funny turkey trot to get away. We kept coming and so Mr. Tom jumped off the bank and glided across the stream to run up the bluff....the ladies right behind.

So....two deer and four turkeys! And then...six more deer came up out of the stream, glancing at me and running into the grassy area on the west side of the bike path. Once again Fenway attempted to show dominance, but they just stood and stared at him.

"Oh small black thing on a string....you don't own these woods!"

Becoming Gramma Beth.....

My mom died in 2010....she lived a full and meaningful life for 89 years....and certainly that's something to celebrate. She and I had our "moments" but she was ever loving, supportive and kind....and as I age I realize more and more just how much she helped to shape the woman I've become. (Now the older woman I've become!) And I also realize that many of the phrases she used now come out of my mouth, many of the traits she had are now mine and some of her face stares back at me when I look in a mirror.

There was one little thing (or probably many because we were mother-daughter) that used to bug me no end. She would clip magazine and newspaper articles and send them to me. No specific topics....things she thought would interest me, advice type articles, informational essays. We lived far away from her home in Park Ridge so these missives would arrive via the US Postal Service. Usually I would open the envelope (this was way before email) and read her personal letter....but toss the helpful columns in the trash. Unread. As an adult I felt I did not need this kind of "help" or "advice" and frankly often resented the "interference".

And then just today I realized I'm once again becoming my mother. I have been clipping magazine and newspaper articles and bringing them to my daughter. She's a talented and capable wife/mother/artist living in West Bend so these important papers usually get delivered in person.  I wonder what she does with them....

I'm even guilty of forwarding on-line informational materials. So my daughter gets the "benefit" new kinds of informational help from her mother.

I'm becoming Gramma Beth.....I bet somewhere she is smiling.

Flying Things.....

A beautiful morning here in Port with an opportunity to take three nice long walks....before the forecast changes to some rain and possibly snow this weekend. Fenway and I went out first thing this morning for his short morning walk. As we rounded the corner a mallard flew in front of us landing in the parking lot. It slowly waddled across the pavement as Fenway's ears perked up. I could almost hear him thinking "Ah hah! A big fat bird that moves slowly....surely I can catch this one!" He ran to the end of his leash....but before he could even get close the duck took off. Disappointment once more. I just noticed that it was a beautiful male and the sunlight made his colorful feathers gleam.

Later we took a longer walk up the bike path. A pair of blue jays screamed in a tree, a lone sandhill crane flew overhead, honking as it disappeared over the bluff. A pair of cardinals talked to each other from one side of the path to the other. Finches flicked in and out of low bushes. Starlings with their yellow beaks explored a grassy area and plump robins searched for breakfast just off the path. They weren't bothered until we got too close...and then flew away. A little wren watched from a tree, cocking it's head as we walked by.

And then there was a noise off to my right and as I turned my head I saw a really big shape take wing. Coming from across the stream I watched as a big tom turkey flew/glided across our route and landed on the bluff to the left. Up the hill it walked......as I stood with my mouth open. We see wild turkeys all the time as we drive around Wisconsin, but this is the first time I've seen them along "our" path and close to our condo!

Later I walked into town to the library and a pair of geese flew, honking, overhead...nothing unusual about that. And as I approached my destination a painted lady flittered around me...swooping up and down before landing in the grass. My first spring butterfly.

So this morning was a lovely one - full of flying things doing their things. Once again I feel so lucky to live where I do with the chance to see small bits of Mother Nature up close and personal.

Thwarted......

It's Earth Day 2019 and it's a nice day in Port. My plan was to take a few garbage bags and walk our north beach to pick up trash. I did it last year, and while a small effort, it did make me feel good. It was amazing just how much crap people toss along the edge of our beautiful Lake Michigan.

So....I put on my light jacket, grabbed a few bags and my rubber gloves, gave Fenway a cookie so he would be a good boy....and off I went. Across the park past the band shell, around the water treatment facility...admiring the lake as I walked, watching the birds....feeling good.

Until I rounded the corner.....and found there is NO beach. The water level is even higher than last year and waves lapped at the tree line. There was no way to walk along the beach at all. Sigh. My good intentions.....

Feeling just a bit frustrated I walked up the wooden staircase to the top of the bluff and down the road to our condo. Along the way I did pick up a bunch of cans and plastic cups and some miscellaneous paper/plastic stuff. It amazes me how many people pay for coffee at Starbucks and then just toss the cups out the car window. It amazes me that people just roll down the window and let stuff fly....how lazy, how uncaring.....how inconsiderate of this planet we call home.

Earth Day 2019.....I didn't do as much as I wanted....but I did a little bit and I reached half of my daily steps goal!

Ad Nauseum........

So the report that everyone has been talking about for years is now out - at least parts of it. Over 400 pages......and the talking heads are talking. Instant analysis of sections, sentences, phrases. Experts reading as fast as they can....trying to interpret the data. And 45 boasting that it's over and he's completely exonerated and it's all been a huge waste of taxpayer money.

And then the next day 45 begins to tweet furious comments about the staff that talked to Mueller and how they were lying.

And so it goes.....ad nauseum.

Walking the dog this morning, up the bike path with the sun shining and tiny green buds finally beginning to show on the bushes a quote popped into my mind. I may not have it exactly right....but it was when Gerald Ford was sworn in as President of the United States.....after Nixon was forced out. He started his remarks to the Country with a comment something like "Our long national nightmare is over."

I wonder if, just maybe, someone will say the same thing in 2020. I can only hope.

One Small Tribute.....

You don't have to have a religious bone in your body to appreciate the beauty, grandeur, construction and history of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. If you've seen it's magnificent facade, walked around the grounds, gone inside to marvel at the stained glass and statuary you know you've trod where hundreds of thousands have gone before you. Footsteps of the faithful, footsteps of the curious, footsteps of the mighty and footsteps of the impoverished....all echo in its chambers.

To know that this building is burning is to know that we are losing a precious piece of creative genius, a precious piece of history.

We've been lucky enough to go to Paris twice and visited Notre Dame while we were there. I didn't go because I'm catholic because I'm not. I didn't go because I'm a person living a faith based life because I'm not. I just went to see it.....to experience it.....to appreciate it.

And I did.....appreciate it. I felt the presence of the workers who created it and of the faithful who hold it so dear. I appreciated it as an unforgettable Paris icon.  And to think that it is burning is just so very sad.....for all of us.

....I Spoke Too Soon.....

April 15th...spring in Wisconsin. Not. Ok....so this is beautiful with the sun shining on the trees early in the morning....

....but Fenway should not have to wear his snowsuit any more this year and search in the snow for the "perfect" place.

I know, I know...this is Wisconsin and spring comes on a Wednesday. But this is just wrong....on so many levels. Sigh.

Changes.....

Spring is late to arrive here in Port Washington. It's April 13th and as I look up the bike path I don't see much green. If there are buds on the trees they are so small I can't see them. And there are no little spring flowers poking up yet. I love living on the shores of Lake Michigan, but it does affect our weather....drive a few miles west and it's a different story. I do know that warmer weather is on the way.....my proof is the shrinking pile of snow in our condo's parking lot.

Going......

...going....

....almost gone.....

....I will just wait a few more days and I'm sure the trees and flowers will soon be on display. Sigh....can't wait!

...and Another Episode....

A few days ago I wrote about discovering Katie Couric's "America Inside Out" series while we were flying home from Brussels. Since then I've watched two more episodes and can't wait to find the time to watch the last three.

Last night I sat in front of the computer and watched her travel America and talk to people....the focus of the show was "The Muslim Next Door". Once again, it was interesting, thoughtful and thought provoking.....and myth busting.

Interviewees, born in this country, talked about growing up Muslim in America and the challenges that presents....all the more so since 9/11. They talked about the misconceptions regarding their beliefs and the fears that Americans have about them. Since that terrible day it seems all Muslims are being painted with the same broad brush.....unfairly so. The actions of the few impact the many. But I guess that's a familiar story.

I didn't take notes, but may re-watch the episode. I do remember Katie explaining that when Thomas Jefferson talked about freedom of religion as a building block of the new America he specifically included those who are Muslim. I remember that she quoted some statistics about acts of violence perpetrated by angry, disconnected people.....73% committed by non-Muslims, 27% by Muslims. I recall one part of the interview where she was sitting across a restaurant table talking to a young man....a practicing Muslim. He discussed the influence of our television and print media and how it aggravates fears. Two similar incidents....the white man who drove through the crowd in Charlottesville, killing one and injuring many. He was described as a "loner" with "mental health issues". And then the Muslim who drove through a crowd....the same basic crime....immediately described as a "terrorist". There were more statistics and graphs showing the increase in hate crimes against Muslims since 2016....how many people feel emboldened by rhetoric from our leaders.

She interviewed a number of accomplished young women....some who choose to wear the hijab....others who don't and the impact of that decision. The head scarf immediately sets them "apart" and raises suspicions. I wonder if it was the same when we used to see many Catholic nuns in full garb? Were they asked "Are you hiding a bomb in there?" as they walked down the street?

I admit to knowing very little about the Koran and it's teachings....I have done some reading and was surprised to find so many similarities and quotes that we all thought "belonged" to the Bible. I think I need to make more of an effort to educate myself....

....and watch the next episode to see what else Katie can make me see in a new light.

Disparate Memories......

At the age of 72 I have a lifetime of memories to reflect upon.....and to share with family and friends. And it's always been interesting to me how an event can hold a completely different part of one person's memory when compared to another's. Both individuals shared the experience....but have totally different memories of it.

I was reading a novel by Jodi Picoult titled A Spark of Light and one of the characters reflected on this very thing. The passage described how the character, a college professor, explained memory to her students. And I quote: "She started each semester showing a random student a photo of himself or herself at an event or in a certain geographical place. After a few questions, the student was able to remember that moment, and to fill in the details. The catch? The student had been Photoshopped into the picture, and had never actually been there.

Olive would explain to her students that the brain is constantly telling us lies. It simply can't record every detail that our eyes see, so instead, the occipital lobe adds what it assumes is there. The brain isn't a video recording - it's more like a photo album, and in between those pictures it fills in the blanks. The result is that false memories can be created more easily than any of us want to believe. There will be incidents you swear on your mother's grave happened a certain way....but didn't."

Now certainly this is a novel, but I also know this author does a fair amount of research. So while she is not a scientist, her explanation made sense to me....and explained a possible reason why, for instance, my sister and I have such varying memories of our childhood and family years in Park Ridge, Illinois. And of course our age difference plays a big part....what I was seeing as a 14 and 15 year old was a different reality than she was witnessing as my younger sister while six and seven. Think of the difference in perception between a first grader and a high school sophomore.

So we each have our own memories.....and there is no point in trying to "sway" anyone to accept that your memory is right....and theirs is wrong. They are memories....personal memories colored by time. Most are good.....some are sad and life-changing.

The power of a memory.....it fades, but somehow never disappears.....

Signs of a Late Spring.....

It's still cold here in Port Washington.....the calendar says it's spring, but the temperatures don't agree. Walking the dog along the bike path there is no evidence of greening in the trees....I don't see any buds on branches, the grass is still kind of brownish. The side of the hill is filled with twisted grey branches....the only green is the moss.

But the sky is brilliant blue...and the lake is gleaming. I spot robins....always said to be a sign of spring. But for me, today, it was another bird. I walked north and heard the cardinal calling before I spotted it high on a branch. A small blaze of red against a bright blue sky. Calling....and calling....and calling. The camera on my phone could not capture it....but trust me, he stood out against the blue. I use this older photograph but wish I could have caught him against that bright blue sky.

Spring red....I'll take it.....

Passing the Time......

Flying back from Europe we faced a nine hour flight from Brussels to Chicago. And while we had four inches more leg room than we did flying over....we were still "tight". But in order to get from there to here it's a "challenge" we willingly face.

And we tried to get comfortable. After take off our seats went back just a little so we didn't crowd the people behind us. The tray tables came down to balance books and glasses of water. And our little personal TV screens went on.....with lots of choices. Music, TV shows, documentaries, movies. And this small luxury did help pass the time. We closed our side window and each made a selection. I watched "Can You Ever Forgive Me" with Melissa McCarthy. Fascinating movie based on a true story.

Then I closed my eyes and listened to music for awhile. Then I chose to watch a documentary. Katie Couric has a series called "America Inside Out" and an episode titled "White Anxiety" came up on my screen. It was a fascinating program. Katie crossed America and talked to all kinds of people about their lives, their job security, their politics. She asked thoughtful questions and really listened to all kinds of answers.

This episode focused on cities and areas where job insecurity is a real problem. Areas of our country that voted republican in the last presidential election. And it featured citizens that I would never have a chance to meet in person. They open up about their hopes/fears/realities.

And the program explained a lot. For me and for those of my friends who scratch our heads in disbelief at MAGA hats and voters who put 45 in office this program gave me some understanding. I highly recommend searching for it on line....and I plan to watch the other episodes of her series.

Katie helped me understand.....not agree.....but understand.....

That Thing Called Jet Lag.....

There are some concepts that really irritate me. I don't like the idea of "temperature humidity index" or "wind chill factor". I actually prefer to just got outside and see how it feels. I don't want the meteorologist to tell me just how HOT or COLD I am going to be. It makes it feel worse to know that the outside will feel like 110 degrees in the summer or minus 50 degrees on a winter day. I just don't want that information.

And I also hate the concept of "jet lag".....another real thing that I'd rather not deal with. I know it's a "first world problem" (as my daughter reminds me). I should not complain after getting back from a wonderful European adventure....but I am exhausted. My body clock does not agree with the clock on the wall.

And it takes several days before my midwest sleep schedule starts to re-adapt and I begin to feel normal. My brain will think the words...but they just won't come out of my mouth. It's a "gap" that I do blame on jet lag....it just can't have anything to do with age.

Agghhhh.....today is better....tomorrow should be normal. Then I won't have any excuse....it will be age.....