I wrote this before hearing about evacuations due to forest fires in Vernon, where family live. Thinking of you. Stay safe and wishing for the best outcome. ♥️

… wrote this, this morning:

Here are some candid shots of recent visitors at our house, a skunk and a raccoon with three babies!

There has also been a bear in the yard recently, eating berries (left scat and squashed our bushes), and coyotes on the street, hunting. About once a year a deer family, including a nice buck come through the yard.

We are not much more than half an hour to the big city. Eagles, ravens, turkey vultures, osprey, hawks, geese, ducks, loons, seagulls and many other birds fly above. Stellar’s Jays for sure, screeching loud but beautiful.

Also a lot of plane traffic goes by. There are two local airports not including YVR but including a regional and an international within about half an hour.

I jumped out of a plane in Pitt Meadows eleven times over one season, in the mid 90’s. I wanted to be an instructor because they jump for free. The following season, I could no longer afford it (as an undergrad at the time).

I digress. One more shift before holidays. I am excited for some time off.

I have just completed more work and found out that I will be published as a coauthor again, if our research article is accepted. I have a few articles that are currently published in peer-reviewed journals in health research.

Poem today?

We are all here together. Let’s have each other’s backs.

Heartbeat

Heartbeat of the environment
Buzzing with energy
Living our life together
Striving for harmony
Maybe dissonant as hell
Each one of us contributes
to improvement or deterioration
Or sometimes we just exist
and our impact is contained
Under the sky
Breathing, thinking, seeing, hearing
moving through days above ground
Heavenly bodies look down
Lighting the day or at night, all around
Bustling through the forest
or scuttling through the city
Satellites creep across the sky
Life is bright and life is gritty
Creatures are like stars
working every day
Moonlight shines to share the sun
Darkness flies away
A raven soars high
as human life runs
like rivers to the ocean
or as lakes with devotion
As the clouds roll past
We are reminded
How life goes slow
Or speeds up fast in a hurry
We should never worry
Heartbeat of the world
We all feel quite surely
It runs through us
and all around us
And finds us living purely

This whole deal
is so unreal
Makes me feel
like science changes
Religion also
can make sense
Then logic rearranges
*
The whole feel
is so unreal
I can see
the media change things
Social views
can make perfect sense
Then second thoughts debate them
*
Grasping ideas
while reasoning with chaos
Reach for better ideals
with peace and calm as payoffs
*
Our whole consciousness that guides us
Automatically designs life
We get by
with what is on our mind
Take a guess
for the best
It actually defines us
**
The whole spiel
seems so unreal
It just seems
that it always changes
Their discussion
does not make sense
when they are bringing dangers
*
The whole appeal
of being real
is that we
can get through changes
This suggestion
would make more sense
when we share the precise ranges
*
Spanning ideas
while never being way off
Transparent as we feel
with each big win or day lost
*
Our whole consciousness aligns us
Automatically designs life
We get by
with what is on our mind
Just impress
what is best
what absolutely describes us
*
What identifies us
that we can share to succeed
Every day of every week?
**
The whole deal
becomes more real
makes me feel
One truth never changes
The universe
makes total sense
if we can grasp the basics
*
What identifies us?
like how we reason and feel
Just as far as our lives reach

Irate because it isn’t fair
I rage because they are aware
*
No blame although
they just won’t change
Find grace beyond this intense pace
*
Open up your eyes and see
what we really need
If it is not there
work for what can be
Somehow
get through well
with what we believe
*
Can’t wait until they start to care
New days that are beyond compare
*
Amazed by the people
that are out there
Who work hard to survive
and still work hard to share
*
Time pays when our moments are spare
Minds stay strong when we can prepare
*
I save thoughts
lock them in my brain
Find brave spots in our hearts that race
*
Open up your ears and hear
what we really need
If it seems to blare
still work without fear
Somehow
get through well
with what we believe
*
Don’t wait until they start to care
Make waves that are beyond compare
*
Amaze the bright people
that are out there
Just work smart to survive
and then work smart to share
*
Time plays in moments that we can spare
Skies blaze forever and we should care
*
Find ways to win and keep this pace
Find praise while working for good days
*
I save more grace in time and space
By basing plays for life to stay

A subtle storm steps in
to saturate the earth
Suddenly the system explodes
making itself very well-known
Waves of droplets pelt down
The window is a blur
*
Branches whip
Some are snapped and thrown
*
The storm just gets older
Until soon
it becomes unknown
*
A welcome calm comes back
Reclaims some peace on Earth
Suddenly the wind just starts to slow
taking only the highest road
Rays of sunlight drive down
…Some hard times have a cure
*
Chances drip
Clouds in light winds roll
*
The day grows much bolder
Our resilience becoming known
Tomorrow starts to grow
*
Storms hit again
Then fade away
It happens every single day
*
Sun shines again
Then skies turn grey
Sometimes we really need the rain
*
Storms hit again
Resources strained
It happens in this day and age
*
Night falls again
Until next day
Then light arrives and darkness fades
*
Cycles of life move us
Energy moves the Earth
Suddenly, there is a brand new flow
Ways to the future start to show
We shut our worries down
Confidence becomes pure
*
Plans equipped
with all that we know

Acting casually
In some pain
Meeting the demands
again and again
*
Facing disrespect
with disdain
Almost all people are
under strain
*
Irrefutable undisputed champion of the world
is the person that we are when we are so sure
When we have the angles and momentum
We cover ground and feel sublime
When we hit that sweet spot
We are right in time
*
Acting naturally
with the rain
Following our own plan
again and again
*
Time will not neglect
Assured brains
While most people are
locked in chains
*
We can break out
without a doubt
Getting what it is all about
Staying in our lanes
Never being vain
because everything
that we do
is surely coming around
When the solution is found
we will understand
and then we
can explain
*
Acting passionately
Unrestrained
When our dreams expand
again and again

Always something.

It depends how we deal with it, how we handle it, and how we perceive it in the first place…

This poem developed out of a few words, but the meaning hovers around: finding ways to appreciate and manage our perspectives of the world, life and change.

Manage What We Are Knowing

Time changes and I am
transported out of my world
escorted to the curving edge of the Earth
Of such importance is this moment
that I must make sure my mind is open
*
Stay aware and cool
Prepared for what is next
Being prepared for anything
would be best
*
On course
headed to the top
Supported below when we sink like a rock
We will find glory in this moment
if faith in ourselves does not get broken
*
Time changes and I am
transported out of my world
afforded a choice at the edge of the Earth
Find some comfort for every moment
or fight the times as if they’re not flowing
*
Stay aware and true
Ready for what is next
Being ready for anything would be best
*
Full force
I will never stop
Afforded the show
Then we look at the clock
Every new story has a moment
Read carefully
to appreciate
how life is going
*
Time changes and I am
transported out of my world
A war is raging on the edge of the Earth
Now somehow sort out this very moment
Find ways to
manage what we are knowing

The path that we each travel
winds through time
with an original design
It holds all of our mind
*
Adventures untold
are wherever we go
and everything that we know
is only what shows
*
Easing into our perspective
whether it is action-packed
or reserved
Subjects are observed
through the microscope
and the camera
Sometimes we need binoculars to view
or we need a telescope to look through
Stars above or molecules
Only me or all of you
*
The distance between us never grows old
*
How we see the world starts to take hold
and soon we see it all on our own
unless chance has it
that more tickets are sold
and every seat is a good seat
or if we are on our feet
and there’s a huge crowd
seeing it mostly the same
Together standing proud
Each angle around the stage
and from the stage
there is always change
Sooner or later
*
Minds combine
in an original design
Some shoulder the front line
*
The future is bold
Anywhere that we go
Surprise arrives
high and low
We go with the flow
*
So fast how we each travel
Finding time
for our original design
So bold through all of time

I feel strong
looking on
It’s how it is drawn
It’s how we start it
*
The stars shone
Right till dawn
Darkness is all gone
Sun is the spark here
*
Moving into the day
All the way
Light sets the pace
Of every day that we are living
Sound leads too
Out of the blue
Voice and rhythms that we are given
*
A new song
All along
Don’t ask what is wrong
It was a bargain
*
We belong
Rocking on
There is nothing wrong
We are on target
*
Out among
All the throngs
Each person walks along
Their own red carpet

Picture: Pumpkin here sharpening his claws. He wins more arguments with his personality!

The Agreement

Pull me into this vital argument
Every day I live like I’m born for it
Realize each day’s grace
when all is said and done
Then act on our agreement
Work for every next achievement
until somehow we have won
*
Push me out of this intense argument
By convenience I am torn from it
but still try each new day
We share the same bright sun
Normalize an agreement
Design it well and then keep it
and in some way work for one
*
The agreement as such
seems a little bit much
Working to be one
What does it really mean?
Average our necessities
Leverage our own expertise
So we each get what we deserve
And our voices are all heard
Because
just living is work
*
Jump into this important argument
Strive to share views
to get much more from it
Then apply brand new ways
Shape life for health and fun
Work for the best agreement
so we all get better treatment
Somehow help our system run

While it is fresh in my mind
I will say these things here
The details seem so clear right now
*
What happens, happens
Then I am in disbelief
I have seen all of these things here
Right now I am still processing
**
While it is still on my mind
Many new things appear
These emails seem so weird right now
*
What happened, happened
It must be such a relief
To just move on from these things here
Right now I am still focussing
**
With knowledge just forming
They say, “It is normal”
I say
“It’s time to question what you call normal”
*
While their opinion sinks like a stone
After it has been so quickly thrown
Now our new thoughts all start swarming
**
With consciences dormant
They say “This is normal”
I say
“Let’s try to find a new view of normal”
*
It’s like trying to draw blood from a stone
Old ideas reach down to the bone
Now the whole wide world is stormy
**
While it is all in my mind
I eliminate fear
Thoughts prevail that are here right now
*
It happens
Happens, that we will learn to achieve
To fully deal with these things here
Right now kindness has potency
**
With consciences warming
They say, “Is this normal?”
I say
“This is better than what once was normal”