common ancestry

Each year the Carnaval parade wends its way through the Mission District for several hours on the last Sunday in May. Other than the joy of the participants and spectators, the awareness that I take away each is year is the devotion to heritage. This amazing “warrior” had already walked more than a mile barefoot in the ceremonial dress of his people. My heritage is less colorful, but our common ancestry crosses all cultures and I am glad to be reminded….and included.

take the time to look

When thinking about loss and death, it seems equally important to identify with life. In my small garden this morning I saw a Cabbage Moth, my regular tiny Painted Lady, our local Julia (the photo) and surprisingly, a Large Yellow Sulfur butterfly. Additionally, four kinds of song birds and a noisy pigeon couple were brief visitors. One squirrel and many varieties of insects clamored in the old Italian Cypress. All living and reproducing and changing form in and around my potted plants. I don’t have to search far for renewal, but the lesson is that I must take the time to look.

a long walk on the shore

Walking along the shore, listening to the unending and sometimes gentle pounding of the surf at low tide, breathing the constantly refreshed sea air has been a refuge for me for many years. The long thoughts that seem to be natural to the long views are comforting and help to put the highs and lows of my life in perspective. We are dealing with the second major loss in my family in one month. I am somewhat peripheral to it….physical distance and the impact of time. A long and solitary walk, nothing man-made in the view and time to absorb the chill of the air is much like my internal processing of loss and grief. I gained both awareness and comfort. But, the long walk must continue.

a neighbor with a black mask

Nature has so many aspects here in the center of San Francisco. I have been a minor bird watcher for many years and thought I knew most of the permanent residents and many of the transients. Yet, walking in the park near my home, I saw an amazing red bird with a black mask that I had never seen before. I spent a whole lot of time trying to identify it. Finally, got it…only to discover that hooded orioles are common in palm trees in our area….and the next street and the park are lined with palms...in fact, famous for them. I have lived in this area since the 60’s and had never paused to identify this beautiful little permanent resident.

The photo is not very good, taken with the lens zoomed way out and it was dusk.