I Didn’t Choose It

She looks like my dryad

The world I live in. Not the world at large, but the one I personally inhabit. This world is one where everything has a name or spirit or is deserving of respect. I didn’t wake up one morning and decide this. It just is where I am. This world is touched by communicating with it, either verbally or by silently acknowledging and silently conversing. I might see a hawk in the sky and say “Morning Hawk”, or just think “What a beautiful bird you are Hawk” and go on with the morning. I might walk by an old tree and say (or think) “Hello old one. You have a fine crop of leaves. I wonder what you have seen in your life.”

No, I don’t get answers in any traditional way. I don’t hear (usually) voices in my head. But sometimes just a whisper of “I see you”.

Being in touch with the world this way opens up all kinds of dialogues and discussions. Trip on a rock in the path and swear “Bloody rock!” and I might just think “Well, don’t blame me: You are the clumsy bastard who tripped.” Was that really the rock? Probably not, but maybe? Hell if I know. But I know this: I have lots to say to the things around me, and the things around have lots to say in return. You just have to listen.

I noticed shortly after moving to the current house that a medium sized beech tree had a woman’s face looking at me from the base of the trunk. From a distance of 30 feet or so she was perfect. Looked a little like the image of “Ruby Tuesday”. Big hair, pretty face. But when I walk up to the tree, she disappears. Take a picture and no woman. So I decided she must be a dryad. Shy but interested. She watches the yard and takes note of what goes on. I talk to her sometimes when I am out that way, but she never answers back. Not yet anyway. But from the kitchen she is reassuringly there, looking pretty and watching.

Say what you will about me. Crazy? Deluded? Fantasizing? Normal (no, never that) or keyed into the world like few others. Remember that the old pagan religions of the world considered everything to be animate and reachable with the right spirit. Maybe more of you should look to the world around you and try to get in touch. The next time your car dings to remind you to take the keys, try saying “thank you”. Or the next time you see a bug crossing your path say “Morning bug. Going to be a great day you think?” As an old lady I once knew would say “It may not help, but it wouldn’t hurt.”

Image: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/01/fe/bf/01febf9d4ffbc9ef334eba725f031a65.jpg

Operation Jade Helm: A Confederacy of Dunces (with apologies to the original)

The are called "war games" after all

I will admit that I can be surprised from time to time. But I cannot be surprised by the level of stupidity of some Americans. The cooked up “panic” over a long planned military exercise in Texas is a great example. You know the details: Closed Walmarts to be used for detention  centers; martial law to be declared in Texas and other southwest states; Obama to declare himself a 3rd term that will last for 5 years. And FEMA is setting up detention camps. All with absolutely no factual basis at all. And the Texas governor mobilizes the Texas National Guard for standby status.  And Chuck Norris joins Ted Cruz in the conspiracy watch (1).

What a bunch of incredible morons. I suppose Obama will use all the guns he had confiscated to take over Texas? (NONE) The amazing thing is that thousands of Texans and other conservatives actually believe this. Not surprising, just amazing.

Now, if it happens I will be the first to admit they were right and I was horribly wrong. But it won’t happen, and then what? Well, the conspiracy morons will claim that their “vigilance” kept it from happening. What MORONS!!!

Image: http://www.davidicke.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Untitled-419-587x377.jpg

1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/05/chuck-norris-joins-ted-cruz-and-others-in-operaton-jade-helm-conspiracy-watch/

A Particularly Horrible Fate

On a very

gloomy afternoon, Chipmunk and Weasel were playing “catch the tail” in a big hollow log. They would run in circles trying to catch each other’s tail and yell “GOTCHA” if they succeeded. After a while, they sprawled on the floor, panting, and decided they needed to get out and do some exploration.

So, being young and adventurous, they decided to go to the forbidden “farm” (although they didn’t know what a “farm” was) on the edge of the Valley. Off they went scampering through the wet undergrowth to the meadow. On the other side of the meadow they could just see the farm mounds (we call them houses, but to the animals of the Valley, humans lived in elaborate mounds). They quickly ran across the meadow and sneaked around one of the mounds that seemed to be full of large white birds. “What kind of birds are those” asked Chipmunk? “Don’t know” said Weasel, “I never saw birds like that. All they do is walk around and peck the ground.” They moved on and saw another structure they recognized as a cage from some of the storied the grandpas tell on summer nights under the stars. “Look’, said Weasel, “A cage with a rabbit it in. Let’s climb up and see if we know him.”  

They got up on the cage and sure enough there was a rabbit inside, sad and lonely. “Hey Rabbit!” called Chipmunk. “How did you get in there?” “I was born here” said the rabbit. “My mother was a prisoner and had lots of babies before she died. I am the only one left. The human here is keeping me to eat me, I think.”  “EAT YOU” cried both of the explores together. “That is terrible! We will get you out if we can.” And just then they heard a loud noise and a big splinter of wood flew off the side of the cage. “RUN” said the rabbit. “Here comes the human with his killing thing.”

But the explorers didn’t run. They hid under the cage in an old rat burrow and waited until the human left. Then, they crept up to the cage door and began chewing on the wooden peg holding the door shut. “Hurry” cried Rabbit, “He may come back any minute”. So they chewed and chewed and finally the peg dropped out of the hole, and the door swung open. “Quick. Jump down and run with us. We will hide in the meadow, and then run into the Valley where you will be safe.”

Off they ran. Chipmunk, Weasel and Rabbit, their new friend.

Later, during the storytelling, they told of their adventure and introduced their new friend to the others. An old grannie rabbit volunteered to teach the young rabbit about surviving in the Valley. Chipmunk and Weasel were in trouble for going to the farm but were praised for their bravery for rescuing the young rabbit. They were given a one day “Time out”, no play time, and had to go to bed without their supper.

After the time out day was over, they got together with their new friend and played all summer. They never went back to the farm, but often wondered about strange birds that peck the ground and never talk. As they got older, they decided that some things were just mysteries that didn’t need to be solved. The rabbit knew better though, and secretly vowed to go back to the farm to be sure no more animals were caged and eaten. He was a very brave rabbit, and after a long life had saved many others from a horrible fate.

Image: http://amazingnature.us/mammals/weasel102311a.jpg

http://www.njpalisades.org/images/chipmunkFournier.jpg

And Yet Another Old Friend Dies.

If you knew Gus, you know this is true

We met at the Morton Building in Charlottesville when PVCC was being planned. He was the chair of Humanities and Social Sciences and I was the chair of Everything else. Two chairmen to start with. He planned courses and curricula, space and technology and of course faculty and staff for his area and I did the same for mine. Except mine was bigger and way more complex. I had Math and Science and a few other things. We were moving into a brand new purpose built building, and Gus and I were the real architects of the academic spaces. Of course there was a librarian and a dean of students for that area, but we ruled the campus from conception to execution. And beyond.

We were chalk and cheese in some ways: Science vs Humanities. But Gus was interested in science and I was interested in everything, so we fit. Both named Richard too. We spent years developing the camaraderie of quietness that only comes from friends who know each other well. We worked hard together and played harder together. Both with families and by our selves. We  were hell raisers on trips, but we got the job done.

The Gus and Woody stories are numerous and some legendary, but they mostly die with me. No one needs to be reminded what we did, where, when and how if they were a part of it. No one needs to know details if they weren’t. We both eventually left PVCC for other institutions and we both retired Emeritus. We lost touch over the years, but never lost connection or memories.

He died on April 10^th at age 74. I am 75. I have only one friend I have known longer, and he is still going. I hope.

The world will miss old Gus. His infectious laugh, his political insights, his brilliant teaching and his quiet friendship. Rest easy old friend. You won’t be alone too much longer. The poker crowd is catching up, and maybe we will get a good game going with Me, You, Forest, Ed, and sometimes Chick and Peter and a few others. Remember Peter and the Keys? Remember Deep Throat? Oh yes, we do too. Good days are ahead. Hang in there. And rest easy. Your legacy is well secured. Oh yeah. His name was Richard Carl Gossweiler Jr. Probably the least important to know about old Gus.

Image: https://yifof.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/d19310c18de3dbdcf37087115b5722ab.jpg

Political Season Opens with a BANG!!!

Politics. It never ends does it? Now we are well into the pre-2016 election season and the woodwork had yielded up many critters. Some obviously flawed some ridiculous and a few probably worthy of consideration.

In the next few months the candidates will begin the winnowing process, and then when the primaries come around the “people” will have a say. Well, some people. Most voters won’t bother to vote in the primaries so the ideologues on all sides will really determine who gets to run and who stays home. Both major parties have candidates and no doubt a few third party people will crop up to screw things up.

You don’t think third party candidates don’t make a difference? Ralph Nader gave the election to the Bush/Cheney ticket. He got the exact opposite of what he stood for. And we all got, well, you know what we got. The third party candidates usually siphon off liberal votes and make it harder for Democrats to win elections. Not so much for Republicans. They have a much tighter process once the bloodletting is over.

So this election cycle we will all be standing on the side watching the parties and candidate try to differentiate themselves from the rest, and try to convince voters to get out and vote. There will be time later for dissecting the actual nominees so for now I am just going to relax and enjoy the spectacle of the Republicans eating their young. But don’t think that whoever wins their process won’t be a formidable candidate. The Democrats will have their hands full, and the Republicans will be fighting a tough challenger. And who knows what moronic third parties will crop up to throw sand in the gears of the electoral process. And who knows what laws will be passed to interferewith voting.  And who knows how much money will be poured into the election by foreign powers and superrich oligarchs. A lot.

Image: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/images/i/000/002/481/i02/democrat-republican.jpg?1339609323

An Old Woodpecker Finds Help and Peace

Squirrel  and Possum were moping around in an old hollow log one rainy afternoon. “Possum, I am bored. Let’s go out in the rain and have some fun. Let’s explore!!” “Well, I was just going to try a nap, but OK, I’m with you.”

Off they went in the rain down a path that eventually took them to a small stream. After having a long drink, they decided to climb an old dead tree nearby and see what they could see from the top. About half way up, they found a dark hole and decided to explore inside the tree. Squirrel went first since he was the smallest and by far the most inquisitive. They poked around for a bit, and then were startled and frightened when a voice called “Help! Help me please” and the voice got weaker. They cautiously looked into a cavity and there was an old woodpecker, weak from starvation and no water, and nearly  blind. “Oh” cried possum! “You frightened us. Can we help?”

Well, the woodpecker was surprised that the furry ones would even think of helping her, but felt a spark of hope. “I am thirsty and very hungry, and can’t seem to fly to find food or water. I don’t think you can really help me, but at least I can die with someone with me.”. “Die? We won’t let you die. We will get some water and food and take care of you.” And so their work began. First the friends had to find something to bring in some water, and then find some food. There was plenty of water outside the tree because it was raining, but nothing to collect it in. Then, Squirrel spotted a large acorn. He chewed the nut out and left a perfect cup where the nut had been. Carefully, the friends filled the cup with water and climbed the tree. It spilled out. Then they took the nut cup up to the hole and filled it with rain running down the trunk. IT WORKED!. Now, they carefully carried the water to the back of the hollow where the woodpecker had her first drink in days.  “Oh thank you children” she said, and fell into a deep sleep.

The friends then went out and found seeds and some grubs. Squirrel packed the seeds into his cheeks, while possum made a pouch from a leaf and loaded it with grubs.

When they got back to the hollow, the woodpecker was awake, and as she ate for the first time in many days she thanked them again. “I never thought furries would help an old bird like me. In fact, I have never even had a furry friend. I am so lucky.” “And you don’t have to worry. Every day we will bring more food and water for you until you get well enough to go out on your own.” Woodpecker thought “But I am blind, and may never be able to fly again.” But she didn’t say anything. After the boys left, she crept to the opening in the tree and realized she could still see shadows and smell the woods around her. She flew away to a distant tree, and there rested until she was strong enough to hunt for her own food. Old age and weakness caught her, though, and she died peacefully in her sleep a week later.

When the friends got back to the tree the next afternoon, they found the hollow empty and wondered where the woodpecker went. “Do you suppose she is alright Squirrel?” said Possum. “Yes, she has probably has found her family and is at peace.”

And one week later she was.

Image: http://images.paraorkut.com/img/wallpapers/1024x768/p/possum_-1341.jpg

Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Eastern_Grey_Squirrel.jpg

America in Transition: From “Freedom from Discrimination” to “Freedom to Discriminate”

"America is undergoing a very troubling transition. For the last 30 or 40 years or so Christian fundamentalists have been systematically pushing a Religious agenda at state and national levels, and when denied because of our Constitution scream "WAR AGAINST CHRIST!!! And Christians." They are slowly gaining traction and now are a major force in politics. This law is just the latest evidence of the infiltration of religion. We are moving in the direction of a Theocracy unless the electorate wakes up and sees the problem. So far, they don't seem to be awake."

The above response was to an Australian friend on a Facebook post regarding the Indiana religious freedom law just past. She asked "What happened to freedom of choice?"

Well, the problem is freedom of choice is going away. Many of my "friends" on Facebook won't agree, but the obvious fact is this: Unless you are a Christian and regularly invoke God (as in God Bless America, or public prayer invoking God or Jesus) your career in politics will be limited or non-existent. 

When a State proposes a law that will make it legal to discriminate against anyone for anything by simply saying 'They offend my religion (read Christianity) and therefore I don't want to serve them", who is safe from this kind of discrimination? In my experience of living, I have seen every possible group and kind of people on the receiving end of discrimination. My own father had a discriminatory epithet for almost everyone other than him and family. He wasn't

alone either. Blacks, Jews, Gays, Hungarians, Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Gypsies,  (although my mother was a German Gypsy), people from New Jersey or Pennsylvania. The list was endless. Had he been in the restaurant business, under the Indiana law he could have posted a sign excluding all these and anyone else he wanted because they offended his "religion".

I am fairly certain that the law in question will be stalled by legal challenges and ultimately ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Then the people who put the law in place will scream "War Against Christians" again, and it will start over again.

Where and when will it end? When the majority of Americans who do not want discrimination get off their asses and vote the morons out who do. And that, my Friends, is the problem. The majority of Americans currently seem to be solidly on their asses and show no sign of getting off. 

Do not forget Martin Niemöller and his famous statement "First they came for the socialists - - - - - - - " ( 1 ). By the time you wake up, it may well be too late. It may already be too late. 

1. www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007392

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsnXLnoijg09nV_dAGMm7PJyRYlngMHSgY_bKL4efXy9cyfCElDaWht7uC6Ff8xpbA4i344lKGS8P-7Su_sRTgAcyhdD23E_yuxRoKhQUlITQdphTmDKj0ks-3BNQrTVw0M7oqtKzGBY/s1600/Poor-Oppressed-Christians-72687787000.jpeg

A Tale of Strange Friends and Their Adventure

Fin

(Father and son looking out of a window at a bird feeder with one goldfinch sitting on it)

Dad, why is that bird all by himself? I thought they stayed together in flocks.

Batty

I don’t know Billy, but I know a story about a very brave Goldfinch who was also alone. Want to hear it?

Oh yes please!

Once upon a time a flock of goldfinches were getting ready to go north for the summer to nest in Virginia. They were eating flower and weed seeds to build up energy for the long flight. One of the flock, a young male named Fin, had a cold and was feeling very weak and woozy. The flock leader, Grandfather finch, had delayed leaving to give Fin time to get better, but Fin was still very sick.

“We will have to leave the day after tomorrow if we are going to get to the nesting grounds in time” said Grandfather. But he thought to himself “I doubt if Fin will be well enough to leave or strong enough to make the trip”.

The birds all started to talk at once, some wanting to leave now and others wanting to wait for Fin, but Grandad held up his wing and said “We will wait until tomorrow to see how Fin is feeling, but we will leave the day after.”

While the argument was going on, Fin was listening quietly from a nearby bush. He was very sad that the flock was being divided by his sickness and did not want to be the cause of that kind of trouble. He decided that the best thing for him to do would be to disappear and make the flock think he had been eaten by a cat so they would unite and leave in time.

Fin flew to the edge of the woods and pulled a few feathers from his breast and let them float to the ground. He then flew into the woods to a hollow tree he had spotted a few days ago while he was looking for weeds.

As he crept into the hollow, he was frightened by a pair of eyes looking at him from the darkness. He said “I’m sorry. I didn’t know this hollow had someone living in it.” As he started to leave, a small voice squeaked “That’s OK; I live on the celling and don’t use the floor. You can stay and we can share the room.”

Fin said “Thanks, but will you tell me who you are?” The voice squeaked “My name is Batty, and I am a bat. I live in this tree in the winter, where I sleep most of the time, and then go to a wonderful cave in Virginia for the summer. What a wonderful life!!!”

“My name is Fin, and I am a Goldfinch. I am too sick to leave on the spring migration to the nesting grounds, so I am hiding. The flock will think I have been eaten by a cat and will leave on time. It makes me sad to stay behind, but the flock has got to get to the nesting ground in time to lay eggs and raise babies.”

A foraging finch from the flock found Fin’s feathers and cried “EVERYONE!! I have found feathers from Fin’s breast. He must have been attacked. He is GONE!!”

Well, the flock was really upset, but Grandfather decided to leave the next morning. Fin’s mate was really upset, but she had spent the rest of the afternoon looking and calling for Fin, and she was convinced he was dead.

Fin and Batty watched as the flock left. Batty suggested that when Fin was feeling better and stronger, they could travel together, as the nesting ground was not too far from her cave.

So, after a week or so, the two unlikely companions and new friends left for Virginia. They traveled at night and rested by day. They flew through storms and cold and often didn’t eat for days. But eventually they reached the area where Fin’s flock nested for the summer, and Batty flew off alone to the cave. Fin called after him “BATTY!! Come back to visit, and remember, we are going South together this fall!”

After a few days, Fin found the flock and was reunited with his Grandfather and his mate, a beautiful young finch named Gold.

Together they built a nest and raised a fine brood of baby finches. Batty visited often, and once the flock got used to her was always a welcomed friend. In the fall, they all went South together and found peace in the winter feeding grounds.

Strangely, no-one ever asked Fin what had happened, and Fin never told.

In bird circles, the tale of the Strange Friends and Their Adventure is still told, and many baby Goldfinches are named “Fin”.
Image: Bat: http://www.interstatetermite.com/bats/images/littlebrownbat.jpg

Goldfinch: https://soimahomebody.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/goldfinch-google.jpg

Stand your ground and still die.

A canine cop and dog were trailing a suspect in pine woods in southwest Florida. The dog stuck his/her face into a rattle snake and got bitten. Here is the part that pisses me off. The cop shot the snake and then took the dog to a vet for anti-venom. The dog survived and the snake did not. 
Now remember that Florida is a "Stand your Ground" state. If threatened you may use lethal force to defend yourself. You are legally entitled to kill the threatening person. So the snake was in its own territory, minding its own business when threatened by a dog. The dog didn't back off, so the snake stood its ground and used possibly lethal force in defending itself. For this it got killed. And the cop who pulled the trigger? No charges. Murder of an innocent. 
Ok, I realize that the laws of people usually don't apply to animals. Usually but not always. Say a pit bull bites a person in an unprovoked attack. The dog will be captured, quarantined and possibly put down. Not shot on the spot. 
Ok, I realize that snakes aren’t pit bulls. But they are just animals trying to survive in an increasingly diminishing landscape. They are NOT the aggressor. We are. They do not deserve to be killed just because they are snakes, or because they defended themselves. 
So what should the cop have done? Pulled back the dog and gone to the vet for a shot. Not killed an innocent animal that was merely defending itself in an unprovoked attack. Merely Standing its Ground. Maybe if the snake was named George it would have survived. 

Image: http://origin.news10.net/images/300/169/2/assetpool/images/081011041119_rattlesnake-320.jpg

A Bit of Bravery.

A long time ago, before humans moved in next to the Valley, the animals who lived there developed the ability to talk to each other. Some had a lot to say, some not much, some were very smart and others not so much. But they all had something to contribute. Of course the usual hopes, joys, fears and worries were a part of their lives. So was predation. Some animals like mice rabbits and birds were prey, while some like hawks and snakes were predators. All accepted this as a way of life and did their best to get along.

But every so often, maybe even rarely, very unlikely animals became friends. This is such a tale.

Blue Jay was hopping along one warm spring morning looking for something to eat when she heard a low moaning sound. “Hmmmm” she wondered. What was that? Again she heard it and hopped towards the sound. And then “FEAR FEAR FEAR” !!! She called. There on the ground before her was a rat snake. Blue Jay didn't know any snakes except for “Stripy”, the garden snake in her school, but she knew that rat snakes ate birds. And she was a bird. Quickly she flew back, still calling her Fear call. Then, she heard the snake moan again and whisper “Help me. Please. Somebody. Help me.”

Well, at first Blue Jay thought it was a ploy to get her close so the snake could eat her, but the moan sounded so hurtful she hopped near for another look. “Bird!” cried the snake. “Please help me. I have been caught in a snare set by Humans for rabbits and cannot get out. I have been here for days and I am afraid that the Human will kill me if he finds me. They hate snakes. Why? I have never so much as touched one.”

“But snake, if I come close you will eat me. Why should I help you just to have you kill me?” “I won’t hurt you, I promise. I am so frightened. Please help me. I promise I won’t hurt you.” “And what about other birds? My family? Can you promise not to hurt them?” “No I cannot. My nature is to eat birds and other animals, and so I must. But I can promise you that I will never touch a bird like you, ever again. Only PLEASE!!  Help me. I think I feel feet pounding on the ground.”

Blue Jay decided to try to help, and looked over the snare. She noticed that a stout string held the loop to a branch, and that was keeping the snake caught and hanging mostly in the air. She perched near the knot and using her beak gradually untied it. Finally the string let go and the snake fell to the ground. Then she saw the Human. He had a heavy stick and was raising it over his head to hit the snake, so she yelled “RUN SNAKE!!! I will distract the Human.” She flew into his face and then flew away quickly, giving the snake just enough time to escape into the bushes. Later, she found him coiled near a stream. He was sunning and resting after his ordeal. She flew onto a branch over him and said “Hey Snake! Wake up! Looks like you are OK after all. And I hope you remember your promise to me. And by the way, my name is Blue Jay.”

The snake looked up and said “Oh, Blue Jay. Thank you for saving me. Of course I remember my promise. Come down here so we can talk and be friends.” So Blue Jay flew to the ground where the snake coiled around her gently and said “Blue Jay, you will always have a protected place within my coils. And your family too. My name is Slither, and I will always be your friend.” And although Slither was a snake, and ate many birds during his long life, he never once ate a blue jay. And Blue Jay had a friend and protector for as long as she lived. In fact, she introduced many of her babies to Slither, and they often could be seen perching on his coils as he sunned himself. Strange friends indeed. But sometimes it just happens. Usually takes a bit of bravery, though.

Image: https://terra4incognita.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/mbluejay1.thumbnail.jpg?w=500