Independence Day 2021

Two new fawns

 A couple of mornings ago, I looked out from my front porch and saw Mama Deer with her two new babies. They could not be more than a few days old, but they are already out learning about where to find food and water. Spindly legs and all, they are adorable. I have seen twins before, and I wondered if this particular doe is prone to double births, or whether it is even the same one. I can't know for sure, but I sure was pleased to see these two healthy fawns with their mother, who was exploring ahead of them and looking back to see if they were still coming.

It will be awhile before these two will be independent creatures, but if all goes as normal, within a few months they will lose their spots and will have learned how to navigate this bright new world. Welcome, little ones! I think about how these deer must learn to coexist with humans, and hopefully other people will help to keep them safe, by putting out water and being understanding when they chomp down your favorite flowers. 

It is a holiday here, our Independence Day, just a few days after Canada celebrated her own celebration. The country of Canada was formed 153 years ago, but this year their celebration was different, since so many unmarked graves, thousands of them, have been discovered at residential schools where indigenous children were forced to reside, taken from their homes and culture, in hopes of being remade into little Canadian children. Canadians all over the country have been appalled and horrified by these discoveries.

More than 50 cities and towns have opted to cancel their Canada Day celebrations this year. In total, more than 50 municipalities across Canada have canceled July 1 celebrations, according to Indigenous rights group Idle No More.

This year, many Canadians wore orange instead of red and white to remember these lost children. “We're asking people to wear orange instead of red and white this Canada Day, as a show of solidarity with Indigenous peoples,” said Grand Chief Joel Abram of the Ontario-based Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians that represents seven Indigenous communities.

Unfortunately, I cannot imagine such a display of conscience happening here, south of their border. We did things just as bad, but you won't see anything but lots of red, white and blue today, with plenty of fireworks and cookouts and celebrations of our country's long history. For us, it's been 244 years. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies' separation from Great Britain. I wonder how much longer our country will continue to exist in its current state. We are at a crossroads, ever since the storming of our Capitol on January 6. Or even before, but I won't explore that here today. Instead, I want to concentrate on all that's positive and hopeful, on this day of celebration.

We have not always chosen violence against others as the way forward. I found this lovely website online, Seven Reasons Why World Peace is Possible, and I am going to quote heavily from it here. It's already made me feel hopeful for the future, and that's what I'd like to offer as my Independence Day gift to you.

We live in an era of social upheaval which can be seen as an opportunity for transformative change, according to Riane Eisler from the Centre for Partnership Studies, toward the kinds of cultures that support a more equitable, caring, and sustainable way of life. Eisler developed this theory of Cultural Transformation after years of researching the causes of violence in society.

We don't have to accept the diet we are fed daily on the news channels, those that continue to pull us down to believe that there is no other way to exist but to fight. It's just not true, and we can be the change we'd like to see. I feel this in my bones, in my soul, and I am unwilling to just sit back and watch as my world devolves into chaos.

The idea that violence is inevitable is normalised through childhood socialisation and depressing media narratives, which teach us to accept coercion, competition and authority. On the other hand, listening to uplifting stories inspires positive action, and reminds you that you are not struggling alone. Permaculture News is a good place to find such stories. It is isolating and disempowering to believe that humans are bad for one another and the planet. We are interconnected. Nature is neither negative nor positive. It is not dualistic or linear. It does not progress, but evolves. 

Yes. Yes, YES! Let's look for stories that will uplift and inspire, stories of our communities and our own lives that will help us to see that we do have a choice to make in our daily activities, that we can choose love and compassion rather than hate and hostility towards one another. 

I feel incredibly fortunate to have the inspiration of many of my blogging friends from around the world, those of you who fill me with hope as I read of your own trials and tribulations, and the coping mechanisms you have developed to deal with them. 

At this moment in time, I am feeling a little down because of an injury to my right ankle. Last Thursday, just as I was beginning my weekly hike with other seniors, I stepped from a concrete walkway onto sand, and I twisted my ankle as I went down. It's still swollen and painful to walk on, but it's better than it was, and I am doing what I can. Since I can drive, and even stroll carefully (not walking quite yet) as I pay close attention to my ankle, I went downtown yesterday to see a movie (!), my first since the pandemic. My going-to-the-movies friend Judy and I saw In the Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda's latest musical. Although it was good, it wasn't as wonderful as his earlier musical, Hamilton, which I loved. I enjoyed the singing and dancing, and the uplifting stories, but it didn't have the same effect on me as his earlier work did. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it very much and am glad I was able to see it in a theater.

We had to wear masks until we got to our seats, and everybody was well spread out throughout the theater, so I felt quite safe and comfortable. I am also very grateful for the level of vaccine coverage we have here in Bellingham. More than 60% of us are vaccinated, making the possibility of transmission much less. And we are now back to almost normal, or what passes for normal these days. It's been a long road back, fifteen months of struggle to get here.

Just a few days ago, we moved back inside our coffee shop, which is delightful! We don't have to wear masks if we are fully vaccinated, but we can still choose to do so if we wish. The tables are spread apart, and so far it feels like another wonderful milestone to appreciate and enjoy with my coffee shop buddies. 

My tea is gone, my dear partner still sleeps next to me, and I'll step out of bed and see how my ankle feels today. I'll wear my compression socks, and take it slowly as I move through my day. I can still do my Tibetan exercises, even if I cannot get in my usual daily steps quite yet. Soon. Until then, I will send you, my dear friends, my hopes and dreams for a great Independence Day. Until we meet again next week, be well and remember to give thanks for your one and only, special, and precious life.