Consider the Pelican
I’m exhausted, so here’s a bunch of sea lions and birds. A friend died recently, a relative is in physical rehab so they can hopefully walk again, and once again, we may be electing hateful dictator in a few days. I saw a hawk this morning at a lake in Delaware, where I went for a mountain bike ride. I damaged my chain and had to cut the ride short, but I managed to make it back by staying in a tough gear, which made it a good workout. Sometimes you have to work hard just to make it back to where you started, right?
No, we’ve been moving forward, not that the news media seems to care. The CHIPS act and Bipartisan Infrastructure law have done great things for jobs in depressed areas and for the climate. But you’d never know, because a deranged bigot did something revolting yesterday, and that’s front page. That’s why I enjoy reading this newsletter, which gathers the good news about environmental science and climate change abatement.
San Diego was foggy when we visited, so we made the best of it and visited La Jolla beach. There were chubby ground squirrels, sea lions, and pelicans galore. We also drove up the mountain to see what I thought was a Nike missile platform, but may just be an abandoned water tank. The fog was there too, so we didn’t get a great view, but it was a nice hike. I liked the graffiti on the power box that reads: “If not/w, t/when?”
If not now, when? If not now… then? Questions on all our minds, recently, for sure.
Waterfowl are often underappreciated. I was telling James Freitas of Rock & Hawk how I can watch Buffleheads bob for pond scum all day. They may eat fish, but I don’t care. They disappear, and then pop up again like a rubber ducky in the bathtub, and they’re so damn cute. Check out James’s latest, he’s got some great photos of waterfowl that will make you appreciate mallards again. If you’re from an area like Louisiana where pelicans are common, you can take them for granted. We forget that they are predators with a bucket for a mouth. This gives them a goofy façade, which vanishes the moment you see one eat a pigeon alive in front of your children.
You can see how gray the skies were from my photos. Yet the water was full of boats and swimmers. The day is what you make of it. If you’re feeling the burden of anxious dread, spend some time outside, or with friends, or both. If you can do neither, sit down and think of a time when you could, and did.
Take care of yourselves, and each other.
Oh my goodness, Tom, I’m so sorry to hear this news. As always, I love your unique perspective— it’s true, I completely underestimate the pelican as a predator because it’s so goofy & also because I resent having to try to draw the damn animal so many times as a Louisiana kid. Listen, kids who grow up in states with animals on their flags shouldn’t have to try to draw them. That aside, they are amazing birds & thanks for allowing me to reflect on them today.
Keeping you in my thoughts.
I’m so sorry about your friend, Tom. That’s hard, and in a hard time.
20-some years ago my spouse and I lived in Sydney, Australia. Sometimes we took a bus to a beach where pelicans hung out and stole your french fries. It’s something else seeing food go into that bucket, though they probably shouldn’t be eating french fries. I’m not arguing with a pelican, though. They’re huge.
I was going to email this to you, an interview with a novelist that’s a tiny bit bummer (writing good stories is hard!) but more just plain pleasant because it’s down to earth and lacks ego and his wife is someone I’d like to meet: https://www.vulture.com/article/how-to-be-a-science-fiction-and-fantasy-author.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Take good care of yours, and also yourself.