Sue, I know that cave, and I am glad you emerged from it with hope and persistence. Both of those are worth nurturing. Thank you for your writing, for the shout-out to my Practicing Terraphilia newsletter, and for mentioning What Wildness Is This, one of my favorite anthologies ever (and I would say that even if I weren't included!). What Wildness is such a rich resource of diverse women's voices all raised on behalf of this earth and the wild communities that sustain us all. My copy is in a box right now with all of the rest of my belongings, but when it's out and on the shelf, I know I will dip into it again and again to remind myself of why I write, why I restore nature nearby, why I live. Blessings to you!
Yes! I loved your essay, Riding the River Home, about your float trip and highlighted this:..."reminded me of the connection between place and the human heart, of the necessity of belonging to the whole landscape, to the parts we love and the parts we fear. They reminded me that home is not an abstract concept, but a real and often problematic place." I have done day float trips in Alaska (blue glacier water...brrr), Idaho's lower Salmon River (there's a funny story there), and a multi-day on Oregon's Grand Ronde (another funny story) - holding my breath and closing my eyes on fast rapids, and then anxiously awaiting the next set of rapids while floating serenely. It was a love/fear thing for me!
I am not a river-girl, as I wrote in that essay, but I have come to appreciate what riding rivers can teach us. Even if the experience is a love-fear thing, or perhaps because it is a love-fear thing. That's for reminding me of that quote. Sometimes I forget that I've written some pretty good stuff! :)
This post is a keeper Sue! We need to hear more from your happy side. It helps to give you a more 'well-rounded' persona. And besides it gave me a smile to think of you enjoying decorating for Christmas already! Actually made me think of bringing my stored decorations downstairs today. I am rather fond of small twinkle lights and small hand crocheted snowflakes on fir boughs on the fireplace mantel.
I have skipped traditional Thanksgiving fare for some years. I still plan something special, but that can be anything from enchiladas to a baked salmon. Which I certainly am thankful for!
Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, writing about nature as you do is critical because of how it inspires people to get outside and develop stronger connections to place. And through those we can remain committed to protecting this beautiful world.
Might I suggest decorating the cave with things that offset the gloom. The gloom will still be there, if you are worried that you are not giving it enough attention. I am just suggesting that you make the gloom share space with other things that are important to you.
I love the image of you leaving your daily gratitude practice at the cave opening and picking it back up/ placing it back in your heart just in time for the season of giving thanks.
Well done Sue. Such good points.
Sue, I know that cave, and I am glad you emerged from it with hope and persistence. Both of those are worth nurturing. Thank you for your writing, for the shout-out to my Practicing Terraphilia newsletter, and for mentioning What Wildness Is This, one of my favorite anthologies ever (and I would say that even if I weren't included!). What Wildness is such a rich resource of diverse women's voices all raised on behalf of this earth and the wild communities that sustain us all. My copy is in a box right now with all of the rest of my belongings, but when it's out and on the shelf, I know I will dip into it again and again to remind myself of why I write, why I restore nature nearby, why I live. Blessings to you!
Yes! I loved your essay, Riding the River Home, about your float trip and highlighted this:..."reminded me of the connection between place and the human heart, of the necessity of belonging to the whole landscape, to the parts we love and the parts we fear. They reminded me that home is not an abstract concept, but a real and often problematic place." I have done day float trips in Alaska (blue glacier water...brrr), Idaho's lower Salmon River (there's a funny story there), and a multi-day on Oregon's Grand Ronde (another funny story) - holding my breath and closing my eyes on fast rapids, and then anxiously awaiting the next set of rapids while floating serenely. It was a love/fear thing for me!
I am not a river-girl, as I wrote in that essay, but I have come to appreciate what riding rivers can teach us. Even if the experience is a love-fear thing, or perhaps because it is a love-fear thing. That's for reminding me of that quote. Sometimes I forget that I've written some pretty good stuff! :)
This post is a keeper Sue! We need to hear more from your happy side. It helps to give you a more 'well-rounded' persona. And besides it gave me a smile to think of you enjoying decorating for Christmas already! Actually made me think of bringing my stored decorations downstairs today. I am rather fond of small twinkle lights and small hand crocheted snowflakes on fir boughs on the fireplace mantel.
I have skipped traditional Thanksgiving fare for some years. I still plan something special, but that can be anything from enchiladas to a baked salmon. Which I certainly am thankful for!
Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, writing about nature as you do is critical because of how it inspires people to get outside and develop stronger connections to place. And through those we can remain committed to protecting this beautiful world.
Thank you, David. I agree and enjoy your nature writing. We must speak for those who can't.
Daily gratitude is a daily ritual for me as well. I'm still in and out of the dark cave.
Unfortunately, the cave will likely be used over the next four years.
Might I suggest decorating the cave with things that offset the gloom. The gloom will still be there, if you are worried that you are not giving it enough attention. I am just suggesting that you make the gloom share space with other things that are important to you.
I love the image of you leaving your daily gratitude practice at the cave opening and picking it back up/ placing it back in your heart just in time for the season of giving thanks.
Thank you! It was one of those images that simply wrote itself.