June 5, 2022 A day of absences. One year ago today, my best friend left this world. Walker Thomas. Caveman, writer, teacher, social hermit, my hiking and camping and fly-fishing buddy of wild Arizona rivers and grottos whose favorite animal was the canyon wren, the secretive and solitary ghost of slickrock country.
I feel like caring emojis are the right response to this post and yet it won’t let me enter emojis. So image these words as a hug and a deep breath taking in all that has been lost.
Wow, stunning observations. I've only just learned the difference between a cactus and canyon wren (don't laugh), but I've wondered why I haven't heard the canyon wrens lovely call in so long. Thank you for highlighting and surfacing this dramatic info about what's happening to our bird friends. Just a thought though... "totem animal" "spirit animal" and related ideas use language based on dusty stereotypes and appropriation of native cultures. It's just as easy to say it's his favorite animal, which also doesn't anthropomorphize the animal as having some reciprocal connection to your friend. Your friend liked the bird, the bird cares not about your friend. That is part of the beauty and mystery of this natural world.
Maybe we are all losing our home…
I feel like caring emojis are the right response to this post and yet it won’t let me enter emojis. So image these words as a hug and a deep breath taking in all that has been lost.
Wow, stunning observations. I've only just learned the difference between a cactus and canyon wren (don't laugh), but I've wondered why I haven't heard the canyon wrens lovely call in so long. Thank you for highlighting and surfacing this dramatic info about what's happening to our bird friends. Just a thought though... "totem animal" "spirit animal" and related ideas use language based on dusty stereotypes and appropriation of native cultures. It's just as easy to say it's his favorite animal, which also doesn't anthropomorphize the animal as having some reciprocal connection to your friend. Your friend liked the bird, the bird cares not about your friend. That is part of the beauty and mystery of this natural world.