Is it not time to recognize the significance of the denial by
The United States, and the world, of the largest holocaust ever perpetrated on
a member of our species?
https://thinkprogress.org/indigenous-spiritual-movement-8f873348a2f5?amp%3Butm_medium=email#.56yt8u8kyRock
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I cannot claim one ounce of Native blood but I am proud to
say that both my children have in their genome a strong trace of Comanche. The
picture above is of their great, great, great grandfather......yes, that
Comanche.
My interest in all things dealing with Native Americans began
with the above book and proceeded through some volunteer field work, many pow
wows, medicine circles and eventually a book of my own: “Cultures in Collision”.
Available through The Mendocino Co. Historical Society in Ukiah, CA.
My heart goes out to America’s indigenous peoples and their
continual fight for equality.
A humpback whale was seen by Ishmael and Vicente shortly
after Hurricane Newton. In close, going north around San Pedro. Resident, early
arrival, left behind??? We should start seeing them soon – can’t wait – HOOHAH.
On Oct. 18th I kayaked out a mile for a sun up paddle,
then in for a 10 lap swim – beat but got me to the inside edge of The WZ.
THEY ARE COMING
I am preparing physically and mentally if not spiritually for
this whale season. I feel more than ever a closeness to them and see them as
returning family. I intend to fully engage with them in the water as much as I
can for the opportunity is too wonderful to deny myself. I cannot believe I
have been so lucky as to have spent the last 12 years tracking them and having
the number of close encounters I have experienced. I encourage you all to buy
my book: THE OTHERS, “The Whale People” to see how incredible it is for us to
share this planet with them. The book is available online from Balboa Books,
Barnes and Noble and Amazon. All the proceeds go to my research. And do please
remember that my funding comes exclusively from private donations so whatever
you can donate will be highly appreciated (ONLINE DONATIONS CAN BE MADE AT:
gofund.me/6j0prg). A $50 donation will entitle you to your own adopted whale,
named by you in the records along with a color photo of it’s flukes and the
data sheet recording it’s details. I keep believing that one of these days one
will extend its pectoral fin out to me for a touch.
I have reread Will Durant’s first book in the 10 volume
series, “The Story of Civilization” (my favorite series of all time). This is only
because I have my own personal copy of Vol.I but I again thank Roseanna
Marchetti for lending me the other volumes during the past 4 years that it has
taken me to read them all. They have been cherished and given me more
intellectual, scholarly, entertaining, colorful, sad, enlightening reading than
anything else I have read.
I continue to read voraciously. Of course I have no internet
or TV to distract me so there is a steady stream of books that pass through my
hands. The only themes I avoid are spy books (all but Mr. Smiley of M5)
especially super propaganda specials written by, oh, you know who. Still try to
keep one sci/fi, one mystery, one hist. or fantasy novel and one science book
going at all times so I can choose what to read according to my disposition.
Right now they are: The Fifth Sacred Thing, Lady of Avalon, Manhattan Transfer
and Chariots for Apollo. I keep trying to remember to recommend my favorites
but keep forgetting – anyone out there who can relate to that problem?
I saw a beautiful and big coal black Coach Whip snake
crossing the road the other day.
Must have been over three feet long and thick.
It was on it’s way towards my place and it’s welcome but I lost him before it
got to my fence. They are known to have a nasty temper but are not venomous and
will leave you alone if you leave them alone.
Otherwise all the same critters are around though various
migrations are happening regularly as the season changes. One critter that we
have not seen much of is the jelly called “Agua Mala”. Now they STING! In the
Atlantic they are called “Portuguese Man-o-war” and are considerably larger
than our variation and also much more dangerous. But if you are hypersensitive
the ones here can be very dangerous. Fortunately I’m not: I have been stung
twice and though it hurt like Hell and left a presentable welt I was not too
badly effected. HOWEVER, I no longer swim laps without a long sleeved shirt on.
Every now and again it’s important to remember what is and
what isn’t important – WATER is IMPORTANT.
We are in deep need of rain – nothing since Newton and very
little before. The town well is absorbing too much sea water and the water
quality is way down. WATER! Is there any resource more important?
Went out kayaking the other day and decided to try an egress
and return into the kayak in deep water. Did 10 laps over the reef and was rewarded
with a turtle encounter and then back on board with one effort but not exactly
easy. Hauling out was a chore – kayak getting heavier? Hah!
Today is the 25th and many friends are arriving
soon from N. Cal, Canada, Idaho, Colorado etc. The beach and bay will be busy.
And of course my critters will be here soon too.
End of October and the weather has begun to change. Though
still hot in the afternoons, the mornings and nights are cooling nicely. The
water is warm enough to swim pleasantly without a wet suit – always a shirt
though in case of agua malas.
My good neighbors Kelly and Terri from Medicine Hat, Canada
are here and I was gifted with a kilo of Dorado caught by Kelly yesterday
morning. Delicious! After eating nothing but Trigger Fish for the past months
it is like ambrosia.
No major changes in the “little” critter (all those smaller
than whales) population. I continue to wage war against the small black ant
people. I don’t mind that they are cleaning up all kinds of organic debris left
behind my activities, I draw the line on my skin and the micro-critters there
who the ants also like to feed on. NEVERTHELESS – the ant people are so very
important to the biosphere it is difficult to get too aggressive with them. One
must really read about them to fully appreciate the roll they play in keeping
this planet, and us, healthy.
A lot of these guys around now – chipmunks – I used to spend
hours coaxing these critters to my hands when my mom took Peter (my bro) and me
to Yosemite every summer for vacation. She was an inveterate hiker so after a
few days in the valley at camp 4 (anybody been there)? We would backpack into
the High Sierra camps that ring the valley from above. I always found the
chipmunks particularly curious and cute.
Me and my older brother Peter at Merced Camp
Once a backpacker, always a backpacker......gets you to the
cool places (like Havasupai Canyon, Arizona – way back when)
