A Tale of the Last Baby

Portrait of "Mouse"

Once there was a field mouse named "Mouse". Now Mouse thought she was nothing special as field mice go. She was small and brownish
with popped-out black eyes. She had a scaly tail and sharp nails. She was really a beautiful little mouse, but she didn't know it. And she was really special, too, as you will see. She lived on the edge of a meadow with her extended family, but usually stayed by herself, playing with seeds or twigs, or weaving grass blankets for her nephews and nieces.She had many friends from school and sometimes played with them. But that was all to change.
From a great distance, at least to a mouse, came the smell of smoke. It is true that mice can figure a way out of most troubles, being smart and nimble, but they are terrified of smoke because it usually means a fire is near. And sure enough, a grass fire was making it's way to the edge of the meadow from the road, where a carelessly tossed cigarette had started it. Several of her bigger friends rushed passed in a panic crying "FIRE. FIRE. RUN." Rabbit stopped for just a second or two to tell her of the fire, then ran on. Rabbits fear fire, as should all animals, but could outrun all but the fastest moving fires.
Mouse looked around for her family and saw that they had left in panic, and had left babies behind. "Oh no", thought Mouse. "I must do something. But what?" She had little time to think, as the air was getting warmer and the smoke was getting thicker. She remembered that Tortoise had a burrow not far from her nest, and decided to take the babies there until the fire passed. But she was alone. So, one by one she carried each baby to the burrow. She ran back and forth in the growing heat and smoke. Tortoise volunteered to take care of the babies while she made more trips. She put down a baby and said to Tortoise "One more. Just one more and we will all be safe." Tortoise said "But you have already singed your fur in several places. It is too dangerous to go back." "No" said Mouse, "I must go back. Every baby is precious." And so she ran into the smoke and flames.
Tortoise waited and waited, but Mouse didn't return. It was getting hard to breathe in the burrow when he heard a tiny voice say "Help me Tortoise. I have burned my feet and cannot walk any more. I have the last baby but cannot make it to the burrow." Tortoise went out into the chaos of the fire, found Mouse and dragged her and the baby back to the burrow, narrowly missing being burned to death himself.
Later, after the fire, some of Mouses family returned and found their homes destroyed, and their babies gone. Tortoise told them of Mouses bravery, and where to find their babies. When they saw Mouse they were all ashamed, and appalled at her burns. She had little fur, no toes and a stump of a tail.
She was lying in a nest with 17 babies, making cooing sounds to keep them from getting upset.
She was the most beautiful mouse they had ever seen. She lived long enough to hear them thank her, and promise to be brave in the future. She perished so the babies would live. As she fell into her final sleep, she thought "Well, I have a few burns, but they will heal. I can't wait to see all these babies grow up and be a doting auntie." But, she never did.

Image: http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1793821/thumbs/o-FIELD-MOUSE-facebook.jpg

The Tale of Two New Friends

 J. Scott Hartley’s famous marble entitled “Boy and Rabbit"

A little boy, who had moved into a house near the Valley and met a talkative rabbit, went out exploring to try to find the rabbit again. The boy’s dad had told him many stories of the times he had explored the woods and fields, and the boy was really excited to find his own animal friends.

And the rabbit, a youngster, was also eagerly looking forward to finding the boy again. He had run home and told Grandpa Rabbit of the meeting, and Grandpa said “Why, that man was the boy my great granddaddy talked to. I bet Tortoise still remembers him. Be careful around the boy until you are sure he is not just hunting us.”

And so young Rabbit went out every day looking near the mounds that the humans lived in. And sure enough! One day, there was the boy, just sitting at the edge of the meadow leaning against a tree trunk. Rabbit crept up behind the tree (creeping quietly was a skill many animals had, but Rabbit was the best at it) and whispered “Boy? Can you hear me?”

The boy jumped up and cried “YES!! Where are you?”

Rabbit hopped out from behind the tree and surprised the boy, who scooped him up in a big hug and said “Bunny! I want to be your FRIEND. Can we be Friends? Please?” Rabbit was quite frightened (a trait of many animals as well as rabbits) and in a quivering voice said “Yes, we can be friends, but you must put me down. I am very frightened of humans and have never been held by one. Please?”

Of course the boy put “Bunny” down at once and sat next to him. “Oh, Bunny!” Exclaimed the boy. “We shall have such fun together. We will play hide and seek, chase things, puddle with sticks in the stream. And we will tell each other all about our families.”

Rabbit said “Well, to start with, my name isn’t “Bunny”. “Bunny” is a girl rabbit’s name, and I am a boy. And yes, we can play and tell tales, but we must also learn from each other, and pledge to protect each other. We must be more than friends. We must be BROTHERS!”

The boy was beyond excited. An animal had actually asked him to become a brother. He thought that he would have to talk to his father about this before saying “Yes”. He desperately wanted to have a new brother.

“I am sorry I frightened you, umm, what is your name?” Rabbit thought a minute and said “Well, most animals don’t have names the way humans do. We mostly call each other by what we are, and maybe by our age. I am called Rabbit by my friends and I call them Snake, Hawk, Possum, like that. We always know who we mean. So, you can call me “Rabbit”. What shall I call you? Not “Human” I think, or “Boy” “

The boy immediately said “Oh, my dad calls me “Little A”. The “A” is for Allen, and he is Big A. You can call me Little A. And, I would love to be your brother, but I must talk to my dad first before we can agree on that. It’s getting late, and I must go home soon. I will ask Dad when he comes home from work. “

Rabbit said “Okay, Little A. I like that name. But, we must get on with the friendship, because your kind of animal forgets how to talk when they get older, and I don’t know how long you will have before you will forget how to talk to other animals. Your Dad may know, so please ask him when you see him? Before you go, would you please pick me up gently and let me give you a hug? I don’t think I am frightened of you anymore, and I have never hugged a human.”

Little A picked up Rabbit gently and got a warm and furry hug. As he put him down he said “Rabbit, I will be back in the meadow soon. Don’t forget me.” And Rabbit said, as he turned and hopped away, “I will never forget you Little A. Please come back soon.”

And so, the two new friends went on their separate ways, back to their homes and families, with a new and wondrous tale to tell.

Image: http://photoseed.com/uploads/2012/08/02/single-boy-and-rabbit-william-j-mozart-medium-600-600.jpg

Prologue to the Tales of the Valley.

Rabbit whispers to Boy

The Valley is a wonderful place where animals live out their lives facing the usual joys and problems any animals might have. There are prey and predators, accidents, friendships, jealousies, mysteries and other dynamics. There is bravery, shyness, boldness, bullying, learning, fighting loving and dying.  The Valley has a clean stream, a pond, woods, a large meadow, hills and a road. There are also some humans on one edge living in what the animals call “mounds” which we know are houses. There are seasons and weather emergencies like floods and droughts, fires  and freezes.

The animals can all talk to each other since they believe that they can. Some children can talk to them too, before the veil of disbelief cloaks their imaginations. Your storyteller was once such a child, and remembers all the tales told to him by his animal friends during his years living near the Valley. He, too, lost his belief that he could talk to the animals. But he never lost his memory of those wonderful days, when the animals were his friends.

In the Valley, stories are still told of the human child who sat with the elders and listened to their stories, and who often joined in their adventures. Few animals alive remember him, and when a man entered the Valley one day and spoke nonsense, they all ran and hid. They didn't know he was the human they hear about during the cold winters or warm summer evenings. They did sense kindness, and were surprise when a small human called out to them and they understood him. Some of those tales will eventually join the animals own stories.

The child looked with wonder and amazement at a small rabbit, hidden pretty much behind a log, when it asked “Are you going to hurt me?”  “Daddy” cried the boy, “there is a rabbit over there who talked to me.” His father smiled and said, “I know. They once talked to me too. But I can’t hear them anymore. Best you keep this our secret. Okay?” The boy turned to the rabbit and said “My father told me not to tell anyone that I can talk to you, so it will be our secret. I will come back some day and we can talk some more. He told me that when we get home, he will show me the tales told to him by animals in this valley when he was a boy. Bye rabbit. See you soon.”  And with that father and son walked to the road and left. 

Image: http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20111/1827_IMGP3356_1024x685_1.jpg

You don’t need “Plenty”. You just need “Enough”

Plenty of Shoes. Too Many?

I was struck the other day by somebody saying that they really wanted “Plenty of” something. To me this means a whole pile of whatever, like way more money that you need, or too many cars or too much fire wood. You get the point? More of a resource that can be reasonably used, or maybe even being piggish about something.

Sal and I have always worked on the “Enough of” basis rather than the “Plenty of” basis. We have never felt the need to maximize our assets to the exclusion of leisure time or desired activities. For example, when we are looking at taking a trip somewhere, we estimate the cost, check the finances and either go or not. Usually we go. If I see something on sale, say BOGO chicken broth or fleece jackets at 50% of with no shipping, I think about what I need. Two broths would be enough for a week or more. Ten would stuff the pantry and sit around unused for a month or two. So I buy 2. Same with coats. I have a good, if somewhat old, fleece coat. Do I need another? Not really. Two coats, one for work and one slightly better for leisure is enough. Three or four would be plenty, but unnecessary.

This is beginning to sound like a sermon, and that isn’t where I want to go. My point is this: In a world full of few who can afford anything, many who have to be careful, and way more who can afford nothing, it is important, if you are in the first two categories, to reflect on your needs versus your wants, and to align them with your “enough” versus your “plenty”. Who the hell needs 50 pairs of shoes, or 15 handbags, or three smart phones? Very few is that answer.

So for this season of “Good Tidings” stop and think. And take into account the Billions and Billions of people who have nothing. Zero. Zip. And be generous for them and to them. Forgo that extra pair of shoes or that cutting edge phone. Keep the coat one more year, or, buy a new one and give the old one to someone who is cold. You don’t need “Plenty”. You just need “Enough”.

Image: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/44/00/26/440026ea79cd1a91a9aac64d5ccce66f.jpg

Whole Foods Theory of Weight Loss

See that cup? Yup, Whole Foods.

I was sitting in our local Whole Foods this morning enjoying a nice fare trade coffee and an organic gingerbread muffin when I had an epiphany.  America is suffering from a massive obesity problem. People are way fatter than they ever were. Babies are fatter. Kids are fatter. Teens are fatter. Adults are fatter.  Hell, even I am fatter than I once was.
So I was sitting there sipping my organic and fare trade coffee and eating my muffin and people watching. The guy two tables down, for example. Eating a big salad at 9AM. Ok, not all that weird. But this guy was using BOTH HANDS, eating like a crab. Two forks. Not a slob (although he did chew with his mouth open) but steady eating. And the people going in and out with coffee or small bags with pastries or the people just shopping and checking out. And you know what? They were ALL FIT AND TRIM. Not a single fatty in place (well, the checkout woman was, er, matronly). Pony tails swinging, beards bearding, sandals and running shoes walking. 
And then the EPIPHANY!! Shopping at Whole Foods, or even just sitting there and enjoying coffee and pastry was the perfect way to lose weight. No troublesome diets, no exercise. Just enter Whole Foods and BOOM! off goes the weight. 
I left after about 30 minutes and my pants almost slipped off. Bet you might see me there most mornings I am in town. Just drinking, eating and losing pounds and inches. 

Image: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130811113322-100lb-loss-people-magazine-story-body.jpg

Recycled Toilet Paper

   
Yes, Whole Foods again. But a different experience. To recap: this morning I sat for a while with a cup of coffee and a muffin, just chill'en.  In the course of my epiphany I felt the need to use the facilities. You know, the "rest room" although the last thing I needed was a rest. Whilst contemplating the very clean surroundings, I noticed a small sign on the toilet paper dispenser. "100% Recycled Toilet Paper" or something very nearly that. 
OMG I thought. That must be the nastiest job in the world. How could you get anybody to recycle toilet paper? And where is this nasty job (no pun intended) done? I always thought the paper goes away when flushed, you know, dissolves. So what? Do they reclaim the fibers from the treatment plant? And then it hit me. This paper all comes from OUTHOUSES and THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES!!! God Almighty what a nasty occupation. 
"Mom, I want you to meet my boyfriend. He is a recycling expert for paper products used in cleanup."
The next thing you hear is a loud shot followed by a teenager crying "DAD, you shot him!!!" "Yeah, well, he tried to shake hands. Did you see how brown his hands are?"
Just when you think you've seen it all, you haven't. 

(in case you don't recognize it, this is humor, not serious shit)

Image: http://lowres.jantoo.com/ecology-confusion-mixed_up-mix_up-misinformed-recycling-11800771_low.jpg

Fire and Ice: Paradise lost?

I finally got the "best" of "America" (1) CD, after years of wanting and forgetting, and yesterday listened to all 22 tracks. Some old favorites and some new ones. "The Border" initially caught my attention because some of the lines and rhythms reminded me of the sound track from "LadyHawke".(2) Good tune on it's own though. One immediately got me listening carefully: "Paradise".
This song was written in 2001,

      Paradise
      Caught between the fire and the ice
      No need to think twice
      Its where I want to be

Here is my take: the fire is the sun, and the ice is deep space. The Earth is positioned perfectly between these monster extremes, allowing Paradise to exist. Perfect balance between too hot and too cold. Perfect. Paradise. And this is EXACTLY where I want to be.
Problem: They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot.(3)
I won't go into the litany of human caused problems. You know them by now. But folks, I gotta tell you, we are about to lose Paradise. At the very least a different Paradise will take the place of the one I know and love. Might be better, might not. Personally, I would rather not trade this one in for a new model. But I am pretty sure that is what we have accomplished as a species.
I don’t know if Beckley and Bunnell had this in mind when they wrote it, or if  "America" had this in mind when they recorded it. But that is what those lyrics mean to me. At least, one of the meanings.
Think about it.
Image: http://reality.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ice-and-fire1.jpg

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Complete_Greatest_Hits_%28America_album%29

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladyhawke

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Yellow_Taxi

I just saw a Daily Show sketch of an atheist who is upset because a restaurant is giving a discount to patrons who pray before meals. They give the same discount for meditating for a brief moment, saying thank you to the chef/cook and other non-religious acts of kindness. This guy is pissed because  - - - - why? Can’t figure that one out. He can get the discount any number of ways. He is being an asshole here.

I ran into a secular humanist decades ago who was equally militant and an asshole as well. He would DEMAND that no one say grace over a meal or pray in any venue at all. He would assert loudly that any such activity offended him and should stop at once. I gave up on secular humanists not long after that encounter.

What is it with these people? I get that the imposition of religious activity in a State setting is a violation of the settled law of separation of church and state. But that doesn’t hold in private settings. I have held hands around a table while a prayer was offered. Sang carols in the street in Italy. Attended Seders, in fact led a couple, helped to baptize my god son (and was told by the Priest that I was also “born again”) and had no second thoughts. Others religious practices do not offend me when I chose to be part of them, or when they are private affairs. I do draw the line at publicly supported religion.

So anyway, these guys are just as obnoxious as the preachers who rail against all kinds of perceived “sin” according to their narrow view of their bible. And they credit Jesus or Allah or Muhammad for the source. They are all assholes. All shapes, colors, sizes, religions, sexes, persuasions,  and any other modifier you can think of. All assholes.

We should all hold hands and be thankful for our lives, friends and the good of the world. We should hold hands and pledge to fight intolerance and bigotry. We should all hold hands and just marvel at the companionship we feel in special gatherings.

After all, that is exactly WJWD. And he seems to be the yardstick we use to measure these things.

Image: http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/group-people-holding-hands-around-globe-27405660.jpg

Really Woody? Fellow Citizens Might be Ignorant, Stupid or Lazy? Really?

Acid rain damage in Appalachia

I am just about over the pitiful showing for Democrats in the election, and congratulate the Republicans for getting out their base to vote. They didn't not win alone however. The Democrats gave them the Kewpie doll. What defeats me is the poor and lower middle class workers, women, minorities and gays who vote Republican. Anybody should be able to read the history of the last 35 years and know the GOP is not a party for the people, but for big business and wealthy people.

But let’s move on. So what next? Damned if I know. The GOP has been beating the drums against Obama so they will now have “shit or get off the pot”. In other words, govern. Time will tell.

I heard one GOP discussion that centered on getting rid of all kinds of regulations so that American Industry could innovate, grow and thrive. We shouldn't worry, they said. The industries would be good stewards of land, air and water without regulations. Trust them to do the right thing. Hmmmmmmm.

I was there when Lake Erie was declared a dead lake. Some of the other Great Lakes were so polluted that you couldn't' touch the water. The mist from Niagara Falls was dangerous to breathe. I was there when the Chesapeake Bay collapsed from over fishing and pollution from farm runoff and sewage. I was there when the Potomac River was declared unsafe to touch, and the air downwind of any fountain in the river unsafe to breathe. Pollution.

I was there when the Everglades suffered massive drying out from water diversion for Big Sugar, and for Orlando. I was there when whole forests were clear cut and left to erode, and the timber sold overseas. I was there when the Salmon industry on the west coast collapsed from over fishing, pollution and dam building. I was there when the forests of the Appalachians, New York and New England were dying from acid rain from uncontrolled coal burning. I was there when the air in many major cities was too

poisonous to breath safely due to exhaust and industrial pollution. I was there when the Cuyahoga river caught fire from the industrial waste floating on it.

So don’t tell me American Industry would be good stewards without regulations. And if you think so, you are ignorant, stupid or lazy. Really Woody? You calling fellow citizens those names? Yup.

Image: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRfNgPtjd1__5P79GKGPCSaHNEGiwGabjx0HPvGpPUdxgP9W8q9

Hiker’s tale

A hiker was ambling along a woodsy trail when he saw another hiker approaching. As usual, the first hiker moved to the side to let the second hiker pass, and they exchanged a “hi”. They paused and commented on the beautiful fall colors, and when the first hiker turned to continue, the second asked him if he was “saved” and if he had accepted “Jesus” as his personal savior. This really took the first hiker by surprise. He answered that he wasn't a Christian, but that he knew well the teachings and life of Jesus, and tried his best to live a good life. The second hiker told him that he was a sinner and unless he changed his ways and accepted Jesus as his personal savior, he would burn in hell for all eternity. The first hiker then told the second that although he had done some bad things in his youth, and still struggled with some judgmental issues, he had changed and strived to do good. In fact, he said, he was actually trying to live up to the ideals ascribed to Jesus, but didn't live his life with the “WWJD” test for every decision. The second hiker loudly told him that he was pursuing hubris instead of humility, and would certainly face eternity in hell. With that he turned and strode off.

The first hiker continued along the trail for a few miles and gradually the beautiful day erased the distaste of the conversation. As he was topping a long up-hill grade he turned a bend and saw another hiker sitting on a fallen log that had been chain sawed into a bench. They said “hi” and the seated hiker mentioned that the first looked tired from the long up-hill slog and told him he would be happy to share the bench. Without being asked again, the first took off his day pack and sat.

The seated hiker said “My name is long and from an ancient language, but my friends call me Jay”. The first hiker said “Nice to meet you Jay, my name is - - “ when Jay interrupted him quietly. “I know your name. I just wanted to tell you personally that the fellow you were talking to a couple of miles back was completely wrong. I apologize for overhearing the conversation. It seems to me that he is the one with the problem, and that you are headed in the right direction. My advice is to keep doing exactly what you are doing now and don’t be influenced by false prophets like that guy. He has a long way to go before he sees clearly, but you are there. Nice to meet you William. Keep up the good work.” And with that Jay stood and walked back down the trail, around the bend, and was gone.

 

William was amazed, and figured that Jay must have been just ahead of him on the trail and just within earshot. But the trail was pretty straight, and he saw no one ahead. He got up and continued on and as often happens when hiking, he reviewed the whole event in his mind. He decided that Jay was right, although how he didn't really understand, and silently said “Thank you Jay. Good advice. Let’s hope the other guy gets with the program.” Immediately, a voice came back and said “William, just remember that I will always be here for you if you need me. And you are on the right trail. And one final thing. It is I who thank you. For who you were, who you are, and who you will become.”

William paused on the trail and thought that it would take some time to figure out what that was all about, but he already suspected that he knew

who “Jay” was. And he wasn’t surprised.

Image: http://www.bouldercoloradohiking.com/wp-content/gallery/longcanyon/hiking-path-in-the-forest.jpg