This week we breathe – Alaska

As the planet breathes for the first time in over a century, so too should we

 

Astrological signs are not the kinds of things I’ve completely bought into over the years. The “Hey Baby, what’s your sign?”, thankfully is not something that’s ever horrified another female through me, but, being a Gemini, my entire life I’ve often heard the phrase, “Which twin is out today?” As a younger person, it puts the back up, like when someone says to you “Oh grow up!” As a mature person of a certain age, however, I get it. The twins have been dueling like there’s only one life raft left since this Titanic lockdown began 5 weeks ago and the concern is that there may be no survivors. I find myself teetering, with my inherent duality, between apocalyptic panic and introverted bliss. Balance only represents something gymnasts do on a beam at this point, so, if you’ll indulge me. I need an escape…from so many things.

 

This week, this old dog has been trying to learn a new trick. No, it’s not napping, I mastered that decades ago. It’s video editing. Technology fascinates and scares the crap out of me all at once and just sitting down for the tutorials took months. I’d do anything else before forcing myself to sit down and focus. Laundry, start cooking something, take out the trash, clean. Anything to keep from learning something new. I have this beautiful footage from the Great Alaskan Running cruise of 2018 that I’ve been wanting to edit and put on the blog. While I’m making progress, not enough for this deadline, so check back in about a week to see if I’ve properly learned to fetch. I’ll add it to this blog when I’m done.

Alaska truly feels like the Last Frontier. The 180 members of the running cruise were privileged to run along side giant lakes loaded with schools of salmon and halibut jumping out of the water. Passed cascading waterfalls and stunning flora and fauna. The air always felt clean. Los Angeles, where I reside, can now claim air as clean as Alaska. Southern California has experienced the longest stretch of “good” air since at least 1980. The effects are being seen around the world. Apparently, the Himalayas are visible from northern India for the first time in a century. Kangaroos are hopping freely in downtown Sydney, Australia and Yosemite has become a downright rave party for the bears and their closest friends. The silver lining is that this year’s Earth Day (April 22) is arguably the most meaningful.

 

So, this week I thought we could breathe along with the Earth. Looking at photos of my favorite places helps me to breathe. Listening to classical music also helps me to breathe. Meditation, prayer and just being quiet helps me to remember to breathe. I put together a little slideshow of some beautiful shots from Alaska. May they help you to breathe for a minute.

 

 

The Herb Garden update!

Look at them grow! I’ve begun to prune the two basil’s, making pesto. I have a great recipe for cheddar-dill biscuits, as you can see, it’s next. The thyme, mint and parsley can take their sweet thyme, as far as I’m concerned. Pun intended.

 

Are you breathing? What do you do?