My dad used to say, "I don't own the land, the land owns me." And that's what I hear in your, "We trade lipids and proteins and nucleic acids, information that my immune system stores in lymph nodes and chromosomes. The birds in this place have infected me. Changed me. I feel them in my cells. They are part of me."
Thanks for this, Jeanne. Yes, your dad was very wise. I got this bit from the writings of immunologist Gerald N. Callahan. He is referring to the "deep memory" our immune systems share with close human contact to others. I just extended it to the nonhuman connections we all have.
Having seen the Nutting's when it appeared near Bill Williams, I have no desire to find myself among hordes of other birders. Yes, I've become more of a curmudgeon after two years of mostly isolation and I find I prefer it.
Every since I started learning the names of the birds I see I have cringed at the word “birders” or even birding used as a verb. It never felt right to me. I encounter a true trophy hunting birder from time to time and I’ve really had to learn not to get sucked into the game. He has a huge ego and people like that sometimes make me feel competitive. Took me several years to relax into doing my thing instead. A few times along the way I got excited about going to see a rare bird, but most times I didn’t see it and when I did it was through a scope from far away. Those experiences left me empty. My daily practice of being a part of nature never leaves me empty.
Thanks Karen--you and I have the same vibe. Yes, "daily practice." They won't make movies about us, but that's okay. What we do is so much more rewarding.
One request: Would you please consider saying “MY wife” instead of “THE wife”? Although once a common expression, saying “THE wife” is like saying “the house” or “the car”- appropriate for an object but not for a person with an individual identity. Just sayin’. Thanks 😊
Thanks for this, Marilyn! Well, "the wife," who is sitting right here, says, "I belong to no one." She's so funny! What I'm trying to convey with this is a relationship without the possessiveness ("wife" being possessive enough, I guess, without adding the "my"). She is a person unto herself. I sometimes also refer to her as "the head blond" trying to be funny--we have three daughters, all blond, who I also refer to as "the First Daughter" and "the Middle Daughter" and "the Last Daughter." But I get your meaning. The last thing I want to do is objectify anyone, especially those I love. (I did ask permission from each to use this language--though in this case the language may fail me.)
My dad used to say, "I don't own the land, the land owns me." And that's what I hear in your, "We trade lipids and proteins and nucleic acids, information that my immune system stores in lymph nodes and chromosomes. The birds in this place have infected me. Changed me. I feel them in my cells. They are part of me."
Thanks for this, Jeanne. Yes, your dad was very wise. I got this bit from the writings of immunologist Gerald N. Callahan. He is referring to the "deep memory" our immune systems share with close human contact to others. I just extended it to the nonhuman connections we all have.
Having seen the Nutting's when it appeared near Bill Williams, I have no desire to find myself among hordes of other birders. Yes, I've become more of a curmudgeon after two years of mostly isolation and I find I prefer it.
Indeed, yes! Never dreamed I'd love a Pandemic for showing me the way...
Every since I started learning the names of the birds I see I have cringed at the word “birders” or even birding used as a verb. It never felt right to me. I encounter a true trophy hunting birder from time to time and I’ve really had to learn not to get sucked into the game. He has a huge ego and people like that sometimes make me feel competitive. Took me several years to relax into doing my thing instead. A few times along the way I got excited about going to see a rare bird, but most times I didn’t see it and when I did it was through a scope from far away. Those experiences left me empty. My daily practice of being a part of nature never leaves me empty.
Thanks Karen--you and I have the same vibe. Yes, "daily practice." They won't make movies about us, but that's okay. What we do is so much more rewarding.
Thank you for such uplifting content!
One request: Would you please consider saying “MY wife” instead of “THE wife”? Although once a common expression, saying “THE wife” is like saying “the house” or “the car”- appropriate for an object but not for a person with an individual identity. Just sayin’. Thanks 😊
Thanks for this, Marilyn! Well, "the wife," who is sitting right here, says, "I belong to no one." She's so funny! What I'm trying to convey with this is a relationship without the possessiveness ("wife" being possessive enough, I guess, without adding the "my"). She is a person unto herself. I sometimes also refer to her as "the head blond" trying to be funny--we have three daughters, all blond, who I also refer to as "the First Daughter" and "the Middle Daughter" and "the Last Daughter." But I get your meaning. The last thing I want to do is objectify anyone, especially those I love. (I did ask permission from each to use this language--though in this case the language may fail me.)