He Took the Words Right Outta My Mouth

I've been having some rather frustrating "discussions" with old friends lately (that was probably my first mistake). It's clear we inhabit different worlds now. My frustration lies both in my inability to adequately express my worldview as well as in their refusal--or fear--to open their minds.

But here's a quote I found that wonderfully expresses what I feel and believe. Maybe I'll just start repeating this from now on:

"A living planet is a much more complex metaphor for deity than just a bigger father with a bigger fist. If an omniscient, all-powerful Dad ignores your prayers, it's taken personally. Hear only silence long enough, and you start wondering about his power. His fairness.  His very existence. 

But if a world mother doesn't reply, Her excuse is simple. She never claimed conceited omnipotence. She has countless others clinging to her apron strings, including myriad species unable to speak for themselves. To Her elder offspring She says: 'Go raid the fridge. Go play outside. Go get a job. Or, better yet, lend me a hand. I have no time for idle whining.'" 
--author David Brin

 Yay, Mama Earth!

He Took the Words Right Outta My Mouth

I've been having some rather frustrating "discussions" with old friends lately (that was probably my first mistake). It's clear we inhabit different worlds now. My frustration lies both in my inability to adequately express my worldview as well as in their refusal--or fear--to open their minds.

But here's a quote I found that wonderfully expresses what I feel and believe. Maybe I'll just start repeating this from now on:

"A living planet is a much more complex metaphor for deity than just a bigger father with a bigger fist. If an omniscient, all-powerful Dad ignores your prayers, it's taken personally. Hear only silence long enough, and you start wondering about his power. His fairness.  His very existence. 

But if a world mother doesn't reply, Her excuse is simple. She never claimed conceited omnipotence. She has countless others clinging to her apron strings, including myriad species unable to speak for themselves. To Her elder offspring She says: 'Go raid the fridge. Go play outside. Go get a job. Or, better yet, lend me a hand. I have no time for idle whining.'" 
--author David Brin

 Yay, Mama Earth!

Artist Ahmad Nadalian

 This Iranian artist works in ways that resonate with me: carving images of fish and other creatures into rocks and leaving them as "gifts" to the waters or to be discovered by passersby. He also carves stone cylinders with similar images (above) and uses them like a printing press in the sand, leaving behind on a beach, for example, an image of a crab that will soon be washed away by the surf.

Nadalian adds that fish and snakes are often seen as symbols of fertility and treasure in parts of Iran. He says that his art gives him a way to help "heal the spirit of neglected streams and coastlines" around the world.

Find more artists that work with the Earth at greenmuseum.org.

Artist Ahmad Nadalian

 This Iranian artist works in ways that resonate with me: carving images of fish and other creatures into rocks and leaving them as "gifts" to the waters or to be discovered by passersby. He also carves stone cylinders with similar images (above) and uses them like a printing press in the sand, leaving behind on a beach, for example, an image of a crab that will soon be washed away by the surf.

Nadalian adds that fish and snakes are often seen as symbols of fertility and treasure in parts of Iran. He says that his art gives him a way to help "heal the spirit of neglected streams and coastlines" around the world.

Find more artists that work with the Earth at greenmuseum.org.

Enough With Tossing the Lottery Tickets!

I have a local litterbug that is driving me crazy! Over the last several weeks, I've noticed discarded lottery tickets littering the roadside almost every other day on my morning walk. What gives, dude? Look, I'm sorry you didn't win a million dollars, but can you please dispose of these tickets in your ash tray or the trash can at your house? Are you just so furious at the universe that you have to fling these out your car window?

Has to be the same person. He/she must pick up lottery tickets on a regular basis and then toss them in roughly the same spot while driving to wherever. Honestly, they're always found on the same stretch of road. What are the chances of several different people doing this??

Anyway, I'll continue to pick them up because I don't want to see them floating in the creek. But to whomever is the litterbug, I don't think the universe is going to let you win any money until you learn how to treat Mother Earth better!

Enough With Tossing the Lottery Tickets!

I have a local litterbug that is driving me crazy! Over the last several weeks, I've noticed discarded lottery tickets littering the roadside almost every other day on my morning walk. What gives, dude? Look, I'm sorry you didn't win a million dollars, but can you please dispose of these tickets in your ash tray or the trash can at your house? Are you just so furious at the universe that you have to fling these out your car window?

Has to be the same person. He/she must pick up lottery tickets on a regular basis and then toss them in roughly the same spot while driving to wherever. Honestly, they're always found on the same stretch of road. What are the chances of several different people doing this??

Anyway, I'll continue to pick them up because I don't want to see them floating in the creek. But to whomever is the litterbug, I don't think the universe is going to let you win any money until you learn how to treat Mother Earth better!

Drought in Brandtlund Grove?

I don't know what the "official" word is, but if we're not in a drought, we soon will be! Last week on my walk by the lake, I noticed the water level was down slightly. Well, today it was extreme, twice as bad as last week and shocking to see the water level drop so quickly in such a short time. A few of the small streams that feed the lake have completely dried out. We need some rain!

But nature was still out and about in full force. Saw 2 beautiful white water birds (egrets? cranes?) and a few herons. The rose of sharon is also in bloom.

Didn't have my camera with my this trip, unfortunately!

Drought in Brandtlund Grove?

I don't know what the "official" word is, but if we're not in a drought, we soon will be! Last week on my walk by the lake, I noticed the water level was down slightly. Well, today it was extreme, twice as bad as last week and shocking to see the water level drop so quickly in such a short time. A few of the small streams that feed the lake have completely dried out. We need some rain!

But nature was still out and about in full force. Saw 2 beautiful white water birds (egrets? cranes?) and a few herons. The rose of sharon is also in bloom.

Didn't have my camera with my this trip, unfortunately!

Environmental Visionary Rev. Thomas Berry Crosses Over

If you haven't read any books by Thomas Berry, start now. His writing, particularly "The Great Work" has been instrumental in helping me reconnect with the physical world and nature. I regret that I didn't read his work earlier in my life.

Berry died yesterday at age 94. He was such a bold thinker, and I particularly respect him since he came out of a Christian background with proposals that continue to challenge mainstream Western culture. I like his work because he doesn't hammer you over the head with how terrible things are. Instead, he presents reasonable, logical explanations of what he believes, and you can't help but agree. I may not know exactly how we'll get to the world he envisioned, but I do believe it's a world worth creating.

Environmental Visionary Rev. Thomas Berry Crosses Over

If you haven't read any books by Thomas Berry, start now. His writing, particularly "The Great Work" has been instrumental in helping me reconnect with the physical world and nature. I regret that I didn't read his work earlier in my life.

Berry died yesterday at age 94. He was such a bold thinker, and I particularly respect him since he came out of a Christian background with proposals that continue to challenge mainstream Western culture. I like his work because he doesn't hammer you over the head with how terrible things are. Instead, he presents reasonable, logical explanations of what he believes, and you can't help but agree. I may not know exactly how we'll get to the world he envisioned, but I do believe it's a world worth creating.

Will Obama Make Good on Environmental Promises?

It's looking to be "yes," but time will tell, and Obama is in for a fight from conservatives and those states that fear their economies will be hurt by new environmental legislation.

Offshore wind power is getting closer to wider use as the administration took the step of finalizing rules, what you can and cannot do, as well as how revenue will be shared nearby states. I'm hopeful that this energy source will help reduce our dependence on coal and oil.

And hearings continue this week in DC on Obama's climate and energy bill, which he says will help produce more "green jobs" and stimulate our national economy. Congress is fighting over how much to charge large producers of carbon emissions and what the impact will be on our economy. Personally, I say "Stick it to'em!" These companies need an incentive to innovate, and money is all they understand. We have to stop falling into the trap of looking only at the short term and instead develop a longer range vision for the future of this country.

That's my 2 cents, anyway.

Will Obama Make Good on Environmental Promises?

It's looking to be "yes," but time will tell, and Obama is in for a fight from conservatives and those states that fear their economies will be hurt by new environmental legislation.

Offshore wind power is getting closer to wider use as the administration took the step of finalizing rules, what you can and cannot do, as well as how revenue will be shared nearby states. I'm hopeful that this energy source will help reduce our dependence on coal and oil.

And hearings continue this week in DC on Obama's climate and energy bill, which he says will help produce more "green jobs" and stimulate our national economy. Congress is fighting over how much to charge large producers of carbon emissions and what the impact will be on our economy. Personally, I say "Stick it to'em!" These companies need an incentive to innovate, and money is all they understand. We have to stop falling into the trap of looking only at the short term and instead develop a longer range vision for the future of this country.

That's my 2 cents, anyway.

Oh Yeah, It's Earth Day!

See that sign? Seriously, we should be caring for our world EVERY day, not just April 22!

If you don't know where to start, try here. These days, there are so many local events focusing on Earth Day, no matter where you live. I know of at least 2 happening today in my own little burg, plus I'm volunteering at one this coming Saturday.

No excuses, people! Pick up litter, reduce, reuse and recycle. Don't make me beat you with my druid/shaman staff thingy!

Oh Yeah, It's Earth Day!

See that sign? Seriously, we should be caring for our world EVERY day, not just April 22!

If you don't know where to start, try here. These days, there are so many local events focusing on Earth Day, no matter where you live. I know of at least 2 happening today in my own little burg, plus I'm volunteering at one this coming Saturday.

No excuses, people! Pick up litter, reduce, reuse and recycle. Don't make me beat you with my druid/shaman staff thingy!

Cleaning Up the Creek!

In my last post, Detroit police were "concerned" about, er, pillow litter. Well, here's some real litter concerns for ya!

Yesterday, I had 5 friends over and we cleaned up around the main road that crosses the creek just at the edge of the Grove. After all, I am River Guardian.

People in cars enjoy tossing plastic drink bottles, beer bottles and other evidence of our throwaway, consumer culture right into the creek. Others wander through and find a nice spot to drink--but can't seem to carry out what they carried in.

Here's some photos of the yucky trash caught in the creek. We worked pretty fast and I didn't take many photos, and it was great to have friends over to help. I've been wanting to do some cleaning for a while. We collected 7 bags total, which doesn't sound like much, but it was about all we could reach. I tried to get a long-handle pool skimmer for the trash in the middle of the creek but couldn't find one. A small fishing net did come in handy.

There was still trash left when we stopped, and we all wanted to do more. Next time, we'll have to bring canoes and waders! But at least we left the creek better than when we found it!

I was especially glad to see some folks I didn't recognize farther up the road doing their part. We waved and gave a thumbs-up. They might be neighbors-and those are the kind of neighbors I want to have. And please, dispose of your trash and recyclables properly!

Cleaning Up the Creek!

In my last post, Detroit police were "concerned" about, er, pillow litter. Well, here's some real litter concerns for ya!

Yesterday, I had 5 friends over and we cleaned up around the main road that crosses the creek just at the edge of the Grove. After all, I am River Guardian.

People in cars enjoy tossing plastic drink bottles, beer bottles and other evidence of our throwaway, consumer culture right into the creek. Others wander through and find a nice spot to drink--but can't seem to carry out what they carried in.

Here's some photos of the yucky trash caught in the creek. We worked pretty fast and I didn't take many photos, and it was great to have friends over to help. I've been wanting to do some cleaning for a while. We collected 7 bags total, which doesn't sound like much, but it was about all we could reach. I tried to get a long-handle pool skimmer for the trash in the middle of the creek but couldn't find one. A small fishing net did come in handy.

There was still trash left when we stopped, and we all wanted to do more. Next time, we'll have to bring canoes and waders! But at least we left the creek better than when we found it!

I was especially glad to see some folks I didn't recognize farther up the road doing their part. We waved and gave a thumbs-up. They might be neighbors-and those are the kind of neighbors I want to have. And please, dispose of your trash and recyclables properly!

Your Body Is Still Useful After Death

Things are hectic once again in the workaday world. But yesterday in the mail, I received my ID/instruction card for donating my body to the local medical school. No, not right away! This is all part of plans for what do with whatever's left when I pass on from this consensual reality. I've decided to donate my carcass to science.

When I was in high school, we visited a medical school, and I was fascinated by the cadavers and what the med students were doing. In fact, when I first entered college, I was going pre-med, but then changed my mind (too much chemistry! ugh!). While others in my class were totally grossed out, I was totally engrossed.

So that's part of why I wanted to donate my body. Science is so important, and we still have so much to learn about how our bodies work. So maybe I can help contribute in this way--reveal how a process works or how a disease unfolds or simply just allow a student to discover and experiment.

Seems most medical schools have similar bequeathal programs, but if you're interested, do your homework since they might have specific restrictions or instructions for your body. For example, in my case, my family or estate will have to pay for transportation costs of my body to the school. And the school prefers to do the embalming since they have different needs than your average funeral home. And there can't be a body present at a funeral showing since the school will need the body right away before it gets all juicy and smelly. Kinda takes away from the classroom experience, you know. And if you're mangled in some woodchipper accident, that renders your body unacceptable--so be careful!

I was previously an organ donor, but giving the entire body seems like it might do more good in the long-term. Maybe this sounds harsh but I seem to value understanding and knowledge more over saving a life. Someone may need a kidney, but maybe it's their time to go. I'm not always a fan of extending life by any means possible. Truth be told, they'll eventually die anyway (see, told you it was harsh). But knowledge lives on and can help countless numbers of people. I had to decide between the two since the local medical school won't accept a body bequeathal if organs (except eyes) have been removed (and my eyes are already shot).

I've told my family and my partner about my decision, and they're cool with it and have signed their consent forms. Once the medical school is done with me (2 weeks to up to 2 years), they'll cremate the remains and return the ashes to the family. So eventually, yeah, I'll be ground up.

I've never wanted an expensive, fancy casket anyway that's just going to be put into the ground. Seems a waste of resources and money. Of course, some say cremation of embalmed remains does release harmful chemicals, including mercury from silver dental fillings. And some say concerns are overblown. I'm hoping to offset this by banking instead on what med students will learn using what's left of me. And cremation ideally takes up less space, depending on what you ultimately do with the ashes.

So that means that I won't have a viewing of the body (always found that creepy and slightly silly: "It looks just like her!" Really? Were you expecting someone else?). Instead I want just a memorial service with photos of me when I was alive and kicking. Seems more appropriate.

What about my ashes? I'm still trying to figure out what to do with those. As I've said before, you need to have plans or you'll end up on someone's closet behind the old board games. More later.

Your Body Is Still Useful After Death

Things are hectic once again in the workaday world. But yesterday in the mail, I received my ID/instruction card for donating my body to the local medical school. No, not right away! This is all part of plans for what do with whatever's left when I pass on from this consensual reality. I've decided to donate my carcass to science.

When I was in high school, we visited a medical school, and I was fascinated by the cadavers and what the med students were doing. In fact, when I first entered college, I was going pre-med, but then changed my mind (too much chemistry! ugh!). While others in my class were totally grossed out, I was totally engrossed.

So that's part of why I wanted to donate my body. Science is so important, and we still have so much to learn about how our bodies work. So maybe I can help contribute in this way--reveal how a process works or how a disease unfolds or simply just allow a student to discover and experiment.

Seems most medical schools have similar bequeathal programs, but if you're interested, do your homework since they might have specific restrictions or instructions for your body. For example, in my case, my family or estate will have to pay for transportation costs of my body to the school. And the school prefers to do the embalming since they have different needs than your average funeral home. And there can't be a body present at a funeral showing since the school will need the body right away before it gets all juicy and smelly. Kinda takes away from the classroom experience, you know. And if you're mangled in some woodchipper accident, that renders your body unacceptable--so be careful!

I was previously an organ donor, but giving the entire body seems like it might do more good in the long-term. Maybe this sounds harsh but I seem to value understanding and knowledge more over saving a life. Someone may need a kidney, but maybe it's their time to go. I'm not always a fan of extending life by any means possible. Truth be told, they'll eventually die anyway (see, told you it was harsh). But knowledge lives on and can help countless numbers of people. I had to decide between the two since the local medical school won't accept a body bequeathal if organs (except eyes) have been removed (and my eyes are already shot).

I've told my family and my partner about my decision, and they're cool with it and have signed their consent forms. Once the medical school is done with me (2 weeks to up to 2 years), they'll cremate the remains and return the ashes to the family. So eventually, yeah, I'll be ground up.

I've never wanted an expensive, fancy casket anyway that's just going to be put into the ground. Seems a waste of resources and money. Of course, some say cremation of embalmed remains does release harmful chemicals, including mercury from silver dental fillings. And some say concerns are overblown. I'm hoping to offset this by banking instead on what med students will learn using what's left of me. And cremation ideally takes up less space, depending on what you ultimately do with the ashes.

So that means that I won't have a viewing of the body (always found that creepy and slightly silly: "It looks just like her!" Really? Were you expecting someone else?). Instead I want just a memorial service with photos of me when I was alive and kicking. Seems more appropriate.

What about my ashes? I'm still trying to figure out what to do with those. As I've said before, you need to have plans or you'll end up on someone's closet behind the old board games. More later.

Are You Ready to Die?

Have you made your funeral plans? Decided what do with your earthly remains? Not exactly a cocktail conversation, but it's something we all must--or should--think about before we actually kick the bucket. Otherwise, it's left to our family, and they'll put you in that dress you absolutely hated or bury you in some tacky, gilt coffin in a bleak cemetery next to a six-lane highway!

Not that you can do anything about it. You're dead, after all. You probably wouldn't even care, right? Nonetheless, these things do matter to us humans, at least while we're still alive and kicking.

So I've been thinking about my own demise and trying to make plans that reflect who I am and what I consider my values. I do believe that how we bury or otherwise dispose of ourselves accurately reflects what we think about life (and death) and shows what kind of person we were. Just ask any archaeologist.

I plan to walk you through my own decisions and thoughts as I go through this process, and I hope to make it a little humorous, whenever possible. Feel free to share if you've made plans--or why you haven't.

'Tis the Season to Visit the Cemetery
What set all this in motion was a visit with my dad over Christmas. We had an afternoon and nothing planned, so we decided to visit some nearby relatives---except they were all either sick or not home. So we're driving around the countryside trying to decide what to do next when my dad asks if he's ever shown me where his burial plot is. He hadn't, so we headed to the cemetery, which was close by (a disclaimer: the photo in this post is of a peaceful-looking cemetery in Dallas, Texas).

I thought it would be odd to go see where my dad will eventually end up, but it wasn't. It was actually comforting. He knew right where the plot was. We drove into the cemetery and right up to it. He explained that he had 2 plots, one for himself and one for his wife (although I'd be happy shooting her ashes out of a cannon, but that's another story!). He's had the plot for years, and it's paid for except the fees to open and close the plot. And the fees! Dying can be expensive, and I'll get to that.

Standing there looking at the plot was humbling, however, and a little sad. The plot is right next to a driveway through the cemetary and a sidewalk, so it was like condensing my dad's life into this small, nondescript square of earth. But the cemetery is rural, quiet and peaceful, and while he won't really care once he's in the ground, I think it would be a comforting place to revisit and remember him.

Dad wanted to stop by the cemetery office to check on his remaining payments, so off we went across the main street. The office was small but cheerfully decorated for the holiday with a Christmas tree and several red, leafy poinsettias. We spoke to a friendly woman who went through all the records with us. I took her business card so I'd have contact info. Dad seems healthy as a horse but he is in his early 80s now, so the truth is, his time on this earth is running out, and it's good to be prepared.

Everything checked out, and we left. It was helpful to see dad so relatively jovial about all this (I think he passed some of that on to me). And it got me to thinking about my own final resting place. Where did I want to be buried? Which cemetery? Did I want burial or cremation? A cremation plot or a columbarium? And what about a funeral or memorial service? And who would pay for all of this? I quickly realized that I had specific opinions about all of these questions, and also realized that I didn't want to leave it all to the whims of my relatives or just assume it would be paid for by the magic cash fairy.

Next time: Made up like Madame Tussaud's or oven-baked?

Are You Ready to Die?

Have you made your funeral plans? Decided what do with your earthly remains? Not exactly a cocktail conversation, but it's something we all must--or should--think about before we actually kick the bucket. Otherwise, it's left to our family, and they'll put you in that dress you absolutely hated or bury you in some tacky, gilt coffin in a bleak cemetery next to a six-lane highway!

Not that you can do anything about it. You're dead, after all. You probably wouldn't even care, right? Nonetheless, these things do matter to us humans, at least while we're still alive and kicking.

So I've been thinking about my own demise and trying to make plans that reflect who I am and what I consider my values. I do believe that how we bury or otherwise dispose of ourselves accurately reflects what we think about life (and death) and shows what kind of person we were. Just ask any archaeologist.

I plan to walk you through my own decisions and thoughts as I go through this process, and I hope to make it a little humorous, whenever possible. Feel free to share if you've made plans--or why you haven't.

'Tis the Season to Visit the Cemetery
What set all this in motion was a visit with my dad over Christmas. We had an afternoon and nothing planned, so we decided to visit some nearby relatives---except they were all either sick or not home. So we're driving around the countryside trying to decide what to do next when my dad asks if he's ever shown me where his burial plot is. He hadn't, so we headed to the cemetery, which was close by (a disclaimer: the photo in this post is of a peaceful-looking cemetery in Dallas, Texas).

I thought it would be odd to go see where my dad will eventually end up, but it wasn't. It was actually comforting. He knew right where the plot was. We drove into the cemetery and right up to it. He explained that he had 2 plots, one for himself and one for his wife (although I'd be happy shooting her ashes out of a cannon, but that's another story!). He's had the plot for years, and it's paid for except the fees to open and close the plot. And the fees! Dying can be expensive, and I'll get to that.

Standing there looking at the plot was humbling, however, and a little sad. The plot is right next to a driveway through the cemetary and a sidewalk, so it was like condensing my dad's life into this small, nondescript square of earth. But the cemetery is rural, quiet and peaceful, and while he won't really care once he's in the ground, I think it would be a comforting place to revisit and remember him.

Dad wanted to stop by the cemetery office to check on his remaining payments, so off we went across the main street. The office was small but cheerfully decorated for the holiday with a Christmas tree and several red, leafy poinsettias. We spoke to a friendly woman who went through all the records with us. I took her business card so I'd have contact info. Dad seems healthy as a horse but he is in his early 80s now, so the truth is, his time on this earth is running out, and it's good to be prepared.

Everything checked out, and we left. It was helpful to see dad so relatively jovial about all this (I think he passed some of that on to me). And it got me to thinking about my own final resting place. Where did I want to be buried? Which cemetery? Did I want burial or cremation? A cremation plot or a columbarium? And what about a funeral or memorial service? And who would pay for all of this? I quickly realized that I had specific opinions about all of these questions, and also realized that I didn't want to leave it all to the whims of my relatives or just assume it would be paid for by the magic cash fairy.

Next time: Made up like Madame Tussaud's or oven-baked?