#9 Bridges

[H2O Man]

I spent most of my birthday engaged in three activities: hanging out with my wife, children, and our dogs; tending to some flower gardens; and spending quiet time at The Pond, feeding the fish and birds, and then sitting and watching/listening to the earth. Because I am old, my thinking is frequently random and unconnected. Still, I will share a few thoughts with anyone bored enough to read this:

{1} Water is the first law. Clean water translates to life. Due to human activity, a growing percentage of water no longer hosts life.

{2} Koi fish look different when they get large. My younger daughter asked why the large ones tend to remain motionless, soaking in the sun, while the smaller ones were darting all over the place? I said that it is likely for the same reasons that these same behaviors are common among humans at The Pond.

{3} David Remnick's book, “The Bridge,” is an equally important book for progressives and liberals who support President Obama, or believe that he has failed to live up to his promise.

{4} My daughters found numerous beautiful fossils, which now decorate our “fossil garden” near The Pond.

{5} My sons found numerous stones to be used in sweat lodge ceremonies, which now rest in a large pile between the lodge and The Pond.

{6} The human brain is hard-wired in such a manner that we can benefit from certain rituals. One the flip side, there is a negative potential.

{7} Chipmunks make me smile.

{8}One form of ritual is what are known as “renewal ceremonies.” All renewal ceremonies are based on the nature of cycles. Participants in renewal ceremonies become, on a symbolic level, a part of that cycle.

{9} Human beings are participants in the great cycles here on earth. We both consume and replenish. In western culture, people have lost the natural balance. At present, those humans who identify themselves as republicans, and far too many who view themselves as democrats, are consumed with the fears and greed that makes balance impossible. They are consumers, parasites destroying the host.

{10} When life's pace increases and begins to spin, it is a good thing to have a spot in the natural world to sit and relax.

[livetohike]

1. Beautiful! The picture and the thoughts

:-) To sit quietly, like the large koi fish, bereft of cell phones, pagers, I-pods and the like and just soak in the sun and the moment....we humans would be wise to follow their lead.

I'm lucky to live in a place where for the past month, the peepers have been singing. We crack our bedroom window at night no matter the temperature, so we can hear them. It makes me smile and it puts me to sleep.

[Echo In Light]

2. K/R...our little family enjoys camping/the outdoors, also

[Scurrilous]

3. K & R

:thumbsup:

[G_j]

4. K&R

sounds like a wonderful day!

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. An inspiration. As always.

[tavalon]

6. I'm really glad you're still around

Nice

[elleng]

7. Thanks for this.

You and yours may enjoy watching the growth of a hummingbird family.

http://phoebeallens.com/

[H2O Man]

14. It's been warm enough

that Chloe & I put up some of our humming bird feeders. Nothing like them! One came to the feeder we put on one of our swings.

[mopinko]

8. glad you had a nice day. you deserve it.

yeah, water. in my troubled times, i visit lake michigan, which is only a few blocks from home. it makes me feel small, and hence also my problems.
i love my city passionately, but at 55 i am finding the need for a bit of the country. looking now for something i can afford out near the mississippi. the river makes me feel differently. it makes me feel a part of the flow. and hence also my problems.

you are a lucky man

[Patsy Stone]

9. Sounds like it was a lovely day.

A perfect way to spend a birthday. :thumbsup:

Oh, and chipmunks make me smile, too.

[barbtries]

10. happy birthday h2oman

and many more!

[Me.]

11. Old? I Thought You Turned 26?

Sounds like a lovely, parasite free, day.

[Lochloosa]

12. One to add:

One very good beer is better than 12 bad beers.

[Beringia]

13. That is a really big pond

great place to relax. Good to read some of your thoughts. I went to a Catholic church service yesterday and the priest talked about how we all have to let go of past hurts, real or imagined. And that the Catholic Church has to change too. That was the first time I heard that. We also sang a Shaker song. I liked attending the Indian version of the Shaker songs where people got up and danced. The Shakers I believe were called that because they got up and shaked.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

15. Nice to hear from you.

I wish you health and happiness.