By the Cottonwood Tree

Mornings

2011-03-30T03:53:00.000-07:00

I love mornings. Mornings are "my" time, a time when I'm most productive. Sometimes, when I wake up really early, say anytime near 4:00 a.m., I feel like I just got a secret bonus. A time when I have energy and can do anything I want. A time unconstrained by the confines of work, people, expectations. In the early morning anything is possible, the day seems unending and filled with potential. I don't see things from the perspective of what I don't have time, desire or energy to accomplish. Conversely, by early afternoon my day usually seems over-full and discouragingly finite.

Mornings are a joy for reasons beyond productivity, however. Mornings are filled with the waking of the world around me. They are when my dogs are the most filled with sleepy, smiley affection. In the morning my farmyard gradually builds into a cacophony of birdsong, including the ever present crowing of my roosters. In summer, mornings are when my morning glories are open, turning every fence line into a kaleidoscope of pinks and purples. And the air...in Spring, Summer and Fall, the air in the early mornings takes on the most enchanting freshness, smells as rich and wild as a prairie.
I love mornings.

Bella the Wonder Dog

2011-03-15T18:29:00.000-07:00

About 6 years ago, as a gift to myself for getting my Master's degree, I bought a darling little Norwegian Elkhound puppy, who told me her name was Bella. Within a few months, we lost our cherished Gerda, a Norwegian Elkhound I'd had for 14 years. I was crushed by Gerda's death, and resolved to just simply love and enjoy Bella, because (as all of us who are utterly entranced by our dogs know) I knew that her little candle would burn altogether too fast. As a result, she's always been utterly convinced that she's the most lovable, amazing dog in the universe. And she is. Add to that, probably the most photogenic.

Impending Blizzard

2011-03-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

It's supposed to snow again. We are slated to get two back to back snowstorms, beginning tonight and ending sometime Wednesday. My body knew: joints I barely remember having commence to hurting when these fronts move in. Plus, there's an uneasiness in the air. It's pretty enough out right now, but you can feel something coming. March blizzards, in my memory of Nebraska, are our worst. I don't know if that's because they are powerful, wet and heavy; or if it's because by March we are so very tired of winter.
Mom and I went to Sam's club today to stock up on groceries. Silly really, both our households have so much food stored we have a hard time figuring out where to put new acquisitions, but there's something about blizzards. To be fair, we used to live further out in the country, on roads that were the maintainer's lowest priority, so there really was a time when stocking up was necessary. At 6 miles outside of town and on a mail route to boot, well, it just isn't quite as critical. But you can't ever get those memories out of your head: Stuck, won't be able to get to town for at least a week, often the power went out too so you're glad you've got a wood-stove and outdoor toilet.

So here's to living in Nebraska. At least it's miserable enough to keep the riff-raff out.

Rubbernecking Hicks

2011-03-01T17:55:00.000-08:00

I went to the eye doctor today to pick up my contact lenses. As I was trying to get out of the parking lot I was delayed by a 45-county beat up pick-up truck ahead of me (for any non-Nebraskans: our county of licensure is identified on our license plates--45 is Webster County, which is extremely rural, even by our standards). The couple in the pick-up were close-but-maybe-not-quite-retired, say in their late 50's or early 60's, but it's hard to tell. They were stopped, looking at the other vehicles in the lot. When they noticed me behind them they commenced to creep out of the parking lot, all the while looking and pointing at the vehicles they passed. When they pulled out into the street neither their speed nor behavior changed much. My level of annoyance started to rise proportionately to the increasing probability that they were headed to the same grocery store that was to be my next stop. But, after several blocks of watching them while they energetically looked at everything around (buildings, cars, pedestrians, trees), I realized that they sort of personified exactly what can be so delightful about living here. This is Nebraska, after all. Lots of us still think a trip to town is kind of a special event, so we take our time and rubberneck. And this is Nebraska, so nobody honked, yelled, tailgated or cut them off in response to their almost complete lack of speed. Ended up being a rather charming trip to the store.

Death

2011-02-27T16:14:00.000-08:00

One of my colleagues died today. Not a friend, not somebody I'd ever done more than say 'hi' to. Well that's not entirely true: At the end of every semester for the past 3 years he's been here for our commencement. But still, only a passing relationship. But his death was significant, nonetheless.

Dr. Pamies died at his sister's home, in Haiti, the country of his birth. Which means that he died at home with family. He died at 52 years old, an extremely respected administrator at UNMC. Many of you might think that means he died too young.

Me, I think he's lucky. He died at home, with his family, in his prime. He died when we'll all believe his death tragic, and remember him with adoration and fondness. He died when our memory of him is one of strength, vigor and richness. He's a big handsome, youngish man, now, forever.

So, rest in peace, Dr. Pamies.

February

2011-02-27T05:57:00.000-08:00

It's late winter. Nebraska winters drag on endlessly, interspersed with teasing moments of sunshine and the occasional day of warmth. People tend to get just as dreary. Our moods here become a reflection of the weather: fuzzy, cold and gray interspersed with moments of sunny cheerfulness. The problem is that we know that this will drag on for a few more months. We know better than to be fooled by a 65 degree day in February. We've seen blizzards in April. So we become resolute in our dreariness. Clinging in a desperate effort to avoid having our hopes for spring dashed by yet another arctic cold front. By March we've almost fatigued our ability to appreciate the delicate hoarfrost, the stark beauty of the silhouette of black branches on shades of white and gray. Almost. But not quite.

2009-03-25T05:06:00.000-07:00

Wind!!!!
Well, it's spring. And here in Nebraska that means WIND! Day after day of sustained 30-60mph winds. I do get fatigued with the wind, but I rather enjoy the storms, and even find myself sort of perversely enjoying the extreme variability of the weather. We saw temps in the 70's and the 20's all in one day. Today is supposed to be lovely, but snow is predicted for Thursday and Friday. But this is normal for here. You either get used to it or leave.
Spring always sparks energy in me. I want to get out and clean up the farmstead now, and get flower beds ready. I get grandiose ideas about how much I'm going to grow in my garden (which I always regret by about late July). But I do love the feeling of infinite possibility that comes in Spring.

2009-03-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

It has to be warm before I can even look at these pictures, let alone post them. This was such a storm...We lost electricity for 10 days...No water, no heat, no lights. Blessedly, we had a low volume generator that let us run enough heat from time to time to keeps the pipes from freezing....

I never had such fun with my family in my life. We played games, did puzzles, and snuggled. Makes one think...

2009-03-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

I had the absolute joy of watching several of these Eagle Rays when I was on vacation in St. John's USVI over Christmas. I can't imagine ever losing my awe at these creatures. To watch them is to watch underwater flight. Utterly magnificant.

The push

2009-03-14T04:34:00.000-07:00

So here's my question: Why do we feel the need to constantly "improve"? There's this mindset here in America that whatever you are isn't good enough. You should be richer, thinner, live in a better neighborhood, drive a better car, have a better job, get promoted, eat healthier, exercise more, spend more time with your family, work harder, etc. etc. etc.
Who perpetuates this? We are all complicit, but it originates in advertising. Who gains from this? Everyone that sells something to make us feel:

Righteous, like we are improving ourselves
Better, i.e. stuff that makes the pain of not being everything to everyone better, like chocolate, alcohol, Prozac, Wellbutrin

But it gets better: This pervasive sense that whatever we are isn't good enough gives us problems like obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and various inflammatory problems. So who really wins? The pharmaceutical companies and the healthcare industry. They directly profit from our misery.

2009-03-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

Today was good. My best dog Bella was chosen and adult dog of the day for The Daily Puppy http://www.dailypuppy.com/ which really started the day wonderfully. She's such a joy. I think I've learned more about the nature of God through her than anything else in my life.

Teaching today was a bit of a challenge, and it is late and I'm tired and sore. But still, it was a good day. I've a job I love, the vast majority of the people I love are happy and healthy, and I was greeted at day's end by the exuberant pack.

Living by the Cottonwood Tree

2009-03-05T20:53:00.000-08:00

Good Day! Welcome to my blog.

Life is good here.