Lush Green, Happy Dog
One of my favorite Abstract Expressionist painters, Robert Motherwell, had a unique way of naming his paintings. He would open up his favorite book to a random page, close his eyes and point. The words or phrases at his fingertips became the name of his piece. I love the trust and faith in that gesture.
Nature and Blossie are my fingertips. They lead, they frame, they unveil. I read their clues like the blind read braille.
It was raining earlier and I pouted, disappointed at the seemingly lost opportunity to write outside under my trees. Then, lo and behold, Portland’s oft-changing weather came through, the rain stopped, and here I am happily writing with the breezes.
Yesterday, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Blossie and I celebrated with a trip to the river for a ceremony of blessing. We lit a sweetgrass braid and offered it to the North, South, East and West. We gave thanks with a gift of tobacco to the Four Directions. It’s the very least we can do as we honor those who continually try to educate us dumb asses about the preciousness of Mother Earth and her creatures.
Oh and while there, Blossum, under the guise of fitness trainer, ushered me along the beach, on the rocks and through the surrounding landscape. The effect these wanderings have on my soul cannot be overestimated. As I’ve written ad nauseam, being too emotionally involved with the current goings-on in this country robs me of my life force. I’ve been disgusted and devastated. The more I look the worse I feel. Conversely, as I turn my sights on lush green, happy dog, calm river, friendly people, equanimity becomes my mantra and I find a modicum of peace.
As I walk (and Blossie trots) along the narrow pathway that hugs the river, a couple of kids are looking at something on the ground. Blossie and I (masks on) sidle up and watch them gaze in wide-eyed wonderment at two of our awesome Oregon banana slugs. Being a slug lover (doubt me if you must), I’m tickled it’s finally “slug season,” a time for these endearing, slimy creatures to come out of hiding into the wet, dewy environment I love so much. To the shock and delight of the kids, I reverently picked up our new slug buddies and put them out of the way of oncoming human traffic, explaining I wouldn’t want someone to accidentally squish them. Woo hoo! The crazy lady secures a small victory for wildlife preservation!
If Blossie and I have championed one child to move from fear and revulsion to wonder and awe, we will have done our job today.
What election?
