December 5, 2014

In reading this morning, I felt my heart fall when I saw a friend’s post regarding the protests taking place, this one in particular was the traffic being stopped.   The comments on this post made me so damn sad….  We really have no idea what it is like to be black,/African American in this country..to have to fear the police reactions.  Comments on this post were so …racist.  I just don’t fucking get it….  When I lived in Ft. Worth, I lived in an apartment complex where I was one of two -3 white households, and it was NO BIG DEAL.  In fact, if anything, I felt safe because I knew I wouldn’t be messed with by white men, who were far more likely to cause me injury than my neighbors.  Sometimes folks are so filled with fear that it comes out as hatred and that is a very sad things for humanity.

Work resembled a gigantic “Get Out of Jail Free” card when I worked with a student who had experienced a traumatic brain injury and continues to suffer the effects of it.  Granted, a couple of years after mine, I was still very much in the beginning of my battle – though the immediate issues were over:  I could communicate, smile, speak appropriately, etc. and I looked normal.  People who hadn’t known me before might just think I was a truly ditzy blonde.  Yet those who knew me could see that I was not myself – not by a long shot (in fact, it would be 15 years, when I was around 35,  before my mother said I was back to my normal self again).  Yet this person, this student that I read a couple of sentences to  - FOUR times was confused, lost,  thoroughly discombobulated… .  I was blessed.

The day ended on a good note – school ended – which is usually the BEST note.   I was extra grateful for unions today who fought for a 5-day workweek.  Had it been a 6-day week, I would have called in sick tomorrow, guaranteed.  The sky was perfect (cloudy) for a Friday Night Hike.  I grabbed my head lamp – forgot the camelback and we headed into the hills.  I knew the sun set at 4:41 so I’d have about an hour after that before it got too dark.    Pups and I excitedly headed down  a side road, then dirt road.  I brought treats with me to praise Annie when she followed my “Come!” command, but I was also prepared for her gallivanting off after a –whatever-.  WE walked, I looked, felt at peace in the quiet forest all alone.  I love walking by myself.  I get nervous sometimes, but I’m ok.

I was appalled, however, when I came upon a former camp site with shells and shattered clay plates everywhere. I realize the plates are biodegradable, but the shells aren’t, the trash isn’t…WHY DO PEOPLE DO THIS???  Where they never taught to clean up after themselves?  Whose job do they think it is?  Gathering up what I could, so at least it wasn’t strewn all over the place, I started to leave when I couldn’t find …<guess who>..Annie.  I started walking towards the car, calling her name when this time, she answered!  She was caught on a branch in an area with even more garbage thrown everywhere….  Got to the car just as it started to sprinkle and by the freeway, it was very difficult to see.  I am not very fond of driving blindly, though I’m pretty good at handling hydroplaning nowadays <see post 2>.

Headed home where I dropped off the dogs, went to have a carnitas burrito (best ever) and sat outsidein the cool night in my Marmot jacket.  People kept asking me if I wasn’t cold, but no, it was beautiful.   Home where I worked on group paperwork and prepping for the weekend’s paper writing.  Looking forward  to the best night of sleep since last night.  Also, I might consider a larger sports bra and start running a bit…I noticed tonight running HURTS like HELL without “Appropriate Support”.  So tonight, I shall read a bit, chilling with my super rad fake-fireplace which I moved into my bedroom.   The window is open and I'm  listening to the gently falling rain, loving this Pineapple Express ... And on that note, over ‘n out.

Pictures: A heart leaf with raindrops; The beautiful sun-blessed view of Jenkinson Lake;  Mabi is SHOCKED that people can be such asses and leave their trash behind like that.  No concern for Mother Earth at all...