Inaugural Bawl Address

On January 13, I offered these brief thoughts to the attendees of the Mickee Faust Inaugural Bawl. in Tallahassee  I hope you will find them of use. Imagine yourself on a gorgeous, wild island, maybe the most beautiful in all the world:  St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. Imagine that from dawn until sunset, you have tramped the beaches and the forest and the marshes, searching out every kind of bird you could identify and count, from the largest eagle to the … Continue

Help for Standing Rock

Dear Friends:  I write to share with you my request for personal protection during my trip to Standing Rock, tomorrow through Sunday, Dec. 5.   Perhaps that is the only way to have the people protecting the River, be protected themselves. Why doesn’t our President Obama answer the cries of the people being so violated in North Dakota. This is what I’ve written to Senator Bill Nelson, and Congresswoman Gwen Graham, both of whom I know and respect.  I hope you … Continue

Mother of Exiles, Weeping

Today, every one of us is trying to figure out how to live with, or through, the results of last night’s election. I am grateful for the wisdom and support of my family and my community in this dark time, as we grieve and regroup. My parents raised me up with the greatest respect for our United States of America.  Above all I was taught that our land was a place of refuge for all in need of safety, mercy and … Continue

The Tenderness of Shorebirds

“I keep vigil…. For those who suffer, and for those who keep vigil.”* This was my unexpected assignment on Saturday, as Jeff and I walked a remote outer stretch of St. Vincent Island. I came upon a red knot hunkered down at the water’s edge, a bundle of feathers pressed against the sand. We’d been admiring the knots as they moved through north Florida on their migration, 5 to 10 at a time, mostly.  They feed voraciously, plunging their bills over … Continue

Rebuilding

When worldly events are too hard, or sad–especially then–we need to take time to realign ourselves with life rebuilding the world all around us. Life and death happen all the time, everywhere, in the natural world, and never is one creature cruel to another, even as they must eat. I saw a ruddy turnstone down the beach, stamping around in an intriguing fashion, so I quietly sat nearby, interested in what she was up to. Here in the sand is … Continue

Stay With Me, Now

Dear Friends: Many, many people are deeply disturbed by the hunt planned for the day after tomorrow.  Many wonder what they can do, tell me they feel powerless.  Sometimes I do, too. All I know is to stay engaged and keep talking.  Don’t go numb.  Call your local radio stations, TV stations, use your social networking skills.  Call your legislators, yet again. Call your minister, pastor, rabbi.  Ask them to speak from the pulpit. Send a letter to the editor.  Go to … Continue

Again, and always, the bears

On a Sunday evening I went for a brief walk in some coastal woods with my friends Jean and Neil. And what did we come upon? So many people are seeing mothers with young cubs, 2,3,4 young cubs. Have each of us found some way to speak for the bears? Is there another phone call you might make, to someone who might know someone with power to affect this tragic unfolding? Here is what the writer Alice Walker says: “The … Continue

A Gang of Baby Gators

Sharp of scute and golden-eyed, a gang of small alligators occupied a palm island off to the side of the river.  Like lengths of bright leather, they belted the dried-down mud. We wedged our kayaks among some tree roots downriver, respectfully distant. We wanted to be with them for awhile, but we did not want to be rushed by their mama. As the foot-long gators grew used to our presence, they resumed their morning, sliding and diving and leaping through … Continue