May 6

Water & Hope

I was transported back to sophomore English class in high school reciting The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where,

Nor any drop to drink.

What brought that to mind—a neighbor alerted me yesterday to new practices that would be used in the common grass areas to save water. He said he knew I would be interested. I walked away putting Coleridge’s words through my mind over and over even if we do not live at sea. Water is life. We know this.

The neighbor said he has seen me read my water meter, and I offered, “I know exactly how much water a shower uses and laundry and such.” He has said more than once, “you walk the talk,” referring to other climate-friendly behaviors he observed. If so, I have more walking to do.

I have been abundantly aware of water since living in Arizona in the 1980’s and one of our Oregon U.S. Senators warned us yesterday of a dire wildfire season this year without adequate staffing by the government.

It was with this frame of mind I started today. Then I shared heartwarming family stories with a Bunny Mother that gives hope; another Bunny Mother flipped over her cell phone so I could see her Keep Calm & Be Kind sticker on the back; and then another friend stopping me in the street so we could clear the air on the state of the world and each other. It helps. We made a tentative plan of how to continue this.

There is a lot going on. Staying on an even keel to know what to do next will take effort. I bet you are making your plan also.

Today Scholar Duck (SD) reminds us….