I woke up around 3 am – (jet lag, I despise you) – having this urge to get out the power washer in the morning morning. It would feel good to attack the cement decks with that rumbling, sharp, energetic stream to clean away the grime and phantasize about it not being a cement deck but you know who. Realized later that all the garden hoses are stored, the water pipes wrapped, so it might have to wait until the next frost is gone. Nonetheless, it was nice to think that there is the adult equivalent of hitting a pillow….

I was a bit demoralized after yesterday’s walk; it is not just our political universe that is going to pieces; the weather has reeked havoc with nature as well. Two of my favorite walks have been impacted: Tryon Creek looks like several bombs went off, and many of the paths and one of the bridges are un-passable because there is not enough man power to remove the fallen trees, giants all. Oaks bottom has free paths, but the old growth trees tumbled left and right, making the familiar scene unfamiliar and telling tales of destruction. Of course the one tree that was not affected is the one at the outlook over the lake, which is growing fast and will be obstructing the view in no time. (All the photographs are taken with I Phone at different times of the yer at that outlook – I walk there once a week with my dog who makes it hard to keep my hand steady since he’s eager to pursue the water fowl, squirrels and other delectable creatures.)

This afternoon I am thinking how earth has weathered so much upheaval through the millennia, how change is actually healthy for forests, through flooding or fire, how extreme situations help us focus on what really matters. If I had to pick the one area that requires relentless, coordinated resistance it is the preservation of our planet for future generations. Unbridled capitalism, with its willing defiance of ways to halt or delay climate change, hurts the entire world, not just a nation that caved in to populist snake oil sales men. Change on a small geographic scale might be natural; change that comes with a destruction of the atmosphere will be catastrophic. (Can’t bring myself to use the word carnage since it’s been in the orange cheat’s mouth too often….)