This is the tree that fell that is referenced in #weekendcoffeeshare 7/23/2016.
#weekendcoffeeshare 7/23/2016
“Jenn,” I say, as my friend walks in my side door to join me for our #weeklycoffeeshare this Saturday morning, “you’ll never guess what happened this week.” Jenn automatically assumed something terrible. It was something sort of terrible, but also natural considering where I live. “What,” Jenn asked as we took our hot beverages out to my deck. When we got to my deck, Jenn didn’t have to wonder anymore. She could see for herself.
“Oh no, “Jenn exclaimed. “How did that happen?” Jenn was looking at the very large tree that had been the biggest and tallest tree in my backyard and was now lying, toppled over, and crushing our fence. You see, I live in the forest and my yard is filled with very tall, large trees. “It happened on Monday, “I explained. “I had Betsy outside in the early morning. We went in and I heard a huge crash. I looked out and the tree was lying on its side.” Betsy, by the way, is my dog. Some time, I want to blog about Betsy and her adventures.
The big tree had toppled over, fully uprooted. It was not knocked down by a storm. It was a bright, sunny day. It just….fell. Thankfully, it fell away from the house. For those who are not familiar with a hardwood forest in the Ohio River Valley, it is almost always a bit damp unless there is a serious drought which is not yet a common condition in this part of the U.S. We have had a lot of rain this year. The only thing we can figure out is that the ground was so wet, and it is clay soil, that the tree was literally pushed up out of the ground by a high water table. In the forest, we tend to get more rain than in other places. Forests play a key role in the water cycle process.
I love my forest surroundings though I always worry about the big trees so close to my house and the possibility of them falling. It’s healthy to live in the forest. Forests, the rustling of leaves, are soothing and peaceful to the human ear. Forests absorb more than 60% of the greenhouse gases in our environment. Not only do trees absorb carbon dioxide but they emit breathable oxygen for humans. Trees essentially fight climate change and clean the air.
Trees can cut air conditioning costs by 50% or more. They also conserve water because they protect lawns and lawn plantings. Trees even provide food…..think apple trees, pear trees. They also provide wood that can be burned for heat.
Trees provide a habitat for 70% of the world’s wildlife. Every animal serves a purpose and even dead and dying trees provide some function for these animals. Woodpeckers, for example, feed on dying trees in my yard.
I was sad to lose the big tree. It will provide firewood for a long time to come. The top, which fell into the woods, will provide shelter for wildlife. Now to get it out of our yard! #weekendcoffeeshare #amwriting #blogging #writing #environment
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Terrorism and the American Spirit
The American society is losing its ability to be carefree. When I talk to most of my friends, they express great prudence and caution when they speak of things they would like to do. Events that involve a crowd, for example. Many, perhaps most, of my friends won’t even think of attending an event, indoors or out, where they would be in a crowd. Some of my friends won’t fly the friendly skies anymore. More of my family and friends won’t even consider visiting a large city now. All of these things represent a major shift in the culture of America.
Americans were never afraid to do any of these things. They were all part of our lives. What changed? I think the change began on 9/11/2001 when terrorists knocked down the Twin Towers in New York City. About three months after that, I flew to Europe several times and the big Air France and Delta planes I was on were practically empty.
I have friends who won’t go to their favorite sporting events…..football and basketball games, because they are in big arenas. I am a fan of a particular college basketball team. If I could get tickets to games played by that team, I would go. The arena seats 24,000 people. Terrorism be damned.
Last summer, I was in Boston on the 4th of July. We considered going to hear the Boston Pops with a crowd of hundreds of thousands of people. We didn’t. Partly because of the traffic. Partly because of the remembrance of the bombing of the Boston Marathon. Terroism won the day.
Lots of people won’t go to concerts now and listen to their favorite music live and in person. They fear that such a large crowd in an indoor or outdoor arena is ripe for terrorism. Perhaps. My friend and I have a concert schedule for the summer and fall and we are going to several concerts we know we will enjoy. Terrorism be damned.
The American people are scared. There are crazy people who want to kill us. Why? There are many theories. Some say that it is because we have interfered in their wars. That may be part of it. I have another theory. Because of the way of life and culture of the people who say they want to kill Americans, they have not been as prosperous as the U.S. has. They haven’t been invited to the economic party. They hate us for our prosperity.
We can’t let them win. We can’t hide in our homes. We must go on with our lives. We have to take ahold of the American spirit and way if we are carefree again. #amwriting #writing #blogging #terrorism #dailyprompt
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When a Writer Can’t Write
A writer has to write. When a committed writer cannot write, they can be creative. They can read or travel in order to see things, meet people, and learn new writing techniques. I do that, but when I want to write, I want to write. To do otherwise causes me cognitive dissonance…….or a storm in my head. For the last six days, I’ve had a storm in my head about writing.
Six days ago, I pinched a nerve in my arm. My right arm, which is my dominant arm. I woke up in the morning, couldn’t move my fingers, and my wrist was limp. I ran, not walked, to my neurologist who found the pinched nerve. I did it in my sleep. Slept on my arm the wrong way! Stuff happens, everyone. Never forget that.
I have a brace on my hand, wrist, and forearm that will remain there until the nerve regenerates. Time to regeneration? Each person is different. Minimum is three weeks. Could be six months. My fingers are moving a little more each day. I’m finally able to write this blog post. I am no good at using dictation software. I have to sit down and pound the keys.
I won’t post as much as usual until I’m better, but I will post! If I can’t write, I’m not myself so I will do my best. Of course, I don’t want to lose touch with you, my followers. Thank you for following me!
Rosemary
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#weekendcoffeeshare 7/16/16
My friend, Jenn, with whom I usually have my #weekendcoffeeshare, is on vacation this week. So, I want to talk about what I think she and I might discuss if she were here.
If we were having coffee, I would share with you my musings about what it means to be over 60. It’s not so old, but we are entering the last quarter of our lives. It gives one pause. It makes one re-evaluate one’s life. It makes you realize that you have only one life and question whether you are doing what you want to do with it. Are you happy? Truly happy? Do you want to keep on with your life as it is? Is your life fulfilling at its core being?
Now for the big question. Are you living your life out of obligation to others? Is there room in your in your life for you? Life in our 60s can be unpredictable. We tend to have built up a number of obligations over the years. We feel like we have to respond to the needs of those obligations, whether they are adult children, grandchildren, elderly parents, or work. Maybe you don’t have as many obligations now. Could be your children have moved away. Your parents are gone now. You’ve retired. You suddenly have time on your hands for the first time in maybe 30 yeas. Do you feel lost?
By 60, you may have even suffered one or more major losses in your life — family members, perhaps a spouse. Life after 60 can have its share of health issues and this can be unpredictable. Do you get checkups and practice preventive medicine so you can live your longest, best life?
I keep coming back to the same question. Are you living your life for others or is there room in it for you? Life after 60 feels different than life before 60. Look around at the people between the ages of 30-60. They are rushing around, in a hurry. They have jobs, small children, many obligations to meet in any one day. After 60, it all slows down. Even if you have obligations, you can take more time in meeting them. You can sort out the obligations you want to keep and those you can dispose of. Most people, after 60, have more time for themselves, or should.
If you are around 60, you are part of the Baby Boomer generation. Almost 10,000 Boomers are retiring per day now. You are not alone. But, now is the time to rediscover your passions. What are your hobbies? What were they before you got so busy with life? Photography? Sketching? Travel? Writing? Give one of your passions a try. See if you catch fire again. If not, think about what you are passionate about now, then go for it. It is never too late.
Whatever you do, it can’t be another chore. It has to be a joy. It has to make your core being feel happiness. Remember that you are in your last quarter of your life. It’s time not to care about what the world thinks anymore. I don’t! It’s time to please YOU. We pass this way only once. Find your passion and do it!
There is a book you might enjoy. It’s called “The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Mid-Life” by Marc Freedman. You can find it at amazon.com. #weekendcoffeeshare #dailyprompt #amwriting #writing #blogging
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The Question
The small diner was filled with people. At a table in the corner sat three friends, women who, all over 55, were alone. They met every Tuesday for coffee in the early morning.
Phoebe, divorced, was regaling them with tales of her ex-husband. Amanda, long since divorced, was looking bored. Susan, a widow, was watching out the window for the last friend due to arrive. Beatrix was late again.
Beatrix had sent word she had something important, urgent even, to share with them. Suddenly, there was a screech of tires and Susan leaped up and shouted, “Beatrix!” Two cars had collided in front of the shop and in one of them was Beatrix. She had been speeding. What was so urgent?
Beatrix was unconscious. She couldn’t tell them.
*Photo by Phylor
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The Bobcat
I sat straight up in bed in fear of my life. It was the middle of the night and something had just woken me up. I had just heard a woman scream – loudly. The thing is…..I lived alone at the time, in a wooded area with no close neighbors. Who in the world could have screamed?
I was afraid to get out of bed. But, I had a big dog that slept in his bed beside me. Murphy, an old shepherd/collie mix who I had rescued. Murphy was fiercely loyal to me and he was not a dog that you took lightly. There was no way to know what had happened to Murphy in the eight years of his life before I rescued him, but it wasn’t good. He came to me aggressive and a fear-biter. He hated men but would make up to women. Most of all, he loved me. He seemed to know I had saved him.
When I heard the scream, so, of course, did Murphy. He jumped up and immediately went to the door, about to tear it down. He wanted out. Murphy had guard instincts but mostly he was all about protecting me. My first thought was to keep him inside. I didn’t know what was going on. I was afraid someone was outside trying to break into my house. I was still half asleep. I couldn’t explain the scream.
Murphy overruled me. He showed no cowardice. Most dogs know no cowardice. Their instincts are to protect hearth, home, and master or mistress. I opened the door and let him out. Against my better judgement. In the dark, he took off in one particular direction, through the dark of my large backyard.
I had a dusk to dawn light in the backyard so it was somewhat lit up in one spot. It was heavily wooded as well. Murphy ran toward the spot that was somewhat lit up. That’s when I saw it. The bobcat. It was sitting on the lowest branch of a tree looking down. Murphy was running right for it.
Bobcats are more common in North America than we know. They are elusive. They stay hidden in the day and roam and hunt at night. They are carnivores and can kill prey much larger than they are, though they usually eat smaller animals such as rabbits, mice, and squirrels. They can be as large as 30 pounds. They are also called wildcats and are the most common of all of the big cats in North America. Since they are so elusive, most of us would be surprised to know that there are as many as one million bobcats in the U.S. alone.
But, the calling card of the bobcat is its scream. It sounds like a woman screaming. I remembered that when I saw the cat sitting in the tree with my dog running toward it.
I didn’t really think the cat would attack my dog. It was in a tree and would not feel particularly threatened. But, I had just been awakened in the middle of the night and was not thinking particularly straight. I started screaming for Murphy to come inside. Murphy as obedient. He stopped, looked around…..I don’t think he ever saw the bobcat but his nose was in the air and he smelled it. I’m confident if that bobcat had been on the ground he would have taken it on, thinking he was protecting me.
Dogs are really amazing creatures. They show only bravery under the most difficult of circumstances and no cowardice. They are man’s best friend. We should always treat them as such. #amwriting #writing #blogging #dogs #kyfishwildlife #dailyprompt
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The Leaving
As I walked away, I saw the look on Oscar’s face. The look that said, “Please don’t leave me. Please let me go too.” But, this is one trip where Oscar could not join me as he usually did. I had to do this by myself. I made sure Oscar would be safe on the farm, with my friends and the other dogs. It was so hard to walk away from him.
It was my mother. I had to fly across the country and I refused to fly Oscar in cargo. My mother was ill and I had to go to her. Flying a dog in cargo is dangerous and Oscar means too much to me. The only problem is I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. I will miss that sweet face.
*Photo courtesy of Yinglan
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#weekendcoffeeshare 7/9/2016
Jenn stopped by my house this morning for our #weekendcoffeeshare, walking slowly, head down. As she opens my door, I say, “Jenn, are you all right?” She replies, “Rosemary, it’s been such a terrible week.” I immediately know what she’s speaking of. She’s speaking of the racial violence we’ve seen in our country this week. Jenn and I grab our cups and head to the deck to sit and talk. Jenn asks me what I think of the tension in the U.S. that we have seen this week. I tell her that this week has just been the culmination of a many incidents between police and young men over the last couple of years.
I think what happened in Dallas this week at the Black Lives Matter peaceful protest
is on everyone’s mind. In just thinking about it, I want to know what my contribution could be in fixing the racial problem in the U.S. I feel like I’m just one little person. How could I possibly help?
One way that I may be able to help is through this blog. It potentially reaches a wide audience. Not only that, but I have met some pretty awesome people who also blog here on WordPress. There is conversation among the bloggers. We talk about issues. Many of us have the desire to do something to help and we could be a pretty big group. That could translate into a lot of voices. Educating people through giving them factual information by blogging about racial violence might be in some way helpful.
Another way I might be able to help is by relating my experience from the past. I was around for the racial violence in the 1960s and 1970s. I remember the clashes between the National Guard and the people. I remember the beginnings of the integration of schools. I remember Detroit almost burning to the ground. We need to take a lesson from history. Surely we won’t let this happen again.
I also write articles for publication outside of this blog. I may add these issues to the topics I write about. Perhaps I can get my articles placed in publications where people who can really help will read them.
I think the way that I, and all of us, can help the most is by our own individual behavior. Be inclusive in our behavior. Love our brothers and sisters regardless of the color of their skin. Look beyond that. If we look beyond it, they will too. Encourage everyone to respect the police officers. They are the line of defense between us and chaos. When they tell us to do something, do it. They aren’t there to hurt us but to protect us. Encourage our brothers and sisters to do the same.
Jenn and I talked for a couple of hours about these issues in our #weekendcoffeeshare. It has been an upsetting week for all. If we all work together, we can find a solution to the racial violence problem in America. #amwriting #writing #blogging #DallasPoliceShootings
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Roundup of Appalachian Blog Posts
Friday Fare to Appalachia
I have committed to writing about my native area, Appalachia, every Friday. Today, I want to do a roundup of the blog posts I’ve written on Appalachia to date. This is for the readers who may have missed a post. It is also for the members of the wonderful new group I have joined on Facebook, Appalachian Americans. Enjoy!
Introducing a Friday Blog Feature on Appalachia
Mother’s Day: Founded in Appalachia
Personality Traits of the Appalachian People
Appalachian Cultural Stereotypes: TV Show “Outsiders”
Appalachia and Food: Green Beans and Corn Bread
Recipe for Memorial Day: Corn Pudding
The Early Homes of the Appalachian Mountain People
Appalachia: Settlers of Eastern KY in the 1700s
The Smokehouse: Preserving Meat
Appalachia and Food: Potato Pancakes
Appalachian Folklore: The Jack Tales
Bluegrass Musician Ralph Stanley Dies
I will blog about Appalachia every Friday, and perhaps on other days, at Writings from the Heart. I look forward to your comments! #amwriting #writing #blogging #appalachia
The Write Scribe 