A Heartfelt Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who responded to my "Spring is in the Air" post, both publicly and privately, as well as, to those of you who shared its message with so many others.  And thank you to the House!

When I posted my brother's photo, I could hear his baritone voice saying, "Naw, Vickie, don't put my photo on the internet."  But when I saw the stat figures that told me his story had been viewed by more than 200 blog readers just about the same time that the House was casting its vote on the healthcare bill, in my mind's eye I could see that same grin cross his face and his eyes twinkle.

There are many hurdles yet to cross, but the new healthcare bill offers hope and moves our country forward in the right direction, in a direction toward community and compassion.  It will take everyone's efforts, individuals, and organizations both public and private, to make this change happen.  But it gives my heart an enormous lift to envision this kinder, healthier America in our future.

And as if to give it a nod from nature, a male Eastern Bluebird perched on my bluebird box for a while this afternoon.  (Above image, a bluebird family visiting winter berries in February.)

Related links on healthcare:
For news on the House's historic vote on healthcare, see Politics Daily.
Click here for the White House news on healthcare.
Also visit Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.  Her page includes helpful links that will inform you about the progress of healthcare reform.

Six Random Things

Alan at Birds n’ Such has tagged me with the "Six Random Facts" meme.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure exactly what a blog meme was until I was tagged with this one. So, I checked it out. And I realized after reading Alan and Kyle’s memes how I appreciated having this brief glimpse into their lives. So here goes with six of my own little-knowns.

1) My most intimate experience in nature happened during a visit to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains several springs ago. Initially, venturing into wild places alone was intimidating for me. But in Cades Cove you are not exactly alone! When I came upon a “bear crowd” I pulled over to discover there was a sow high in the tulip poplar who had stashed three cubs on the hill side behind a log. When she came down, I watched her from a safe distance. And when she laid down to nurse her cubs right in front of me, I could not have been more breathless!

2) I took my first flight in an ultralight aircraft on impulse with a perfect stranger at a festival in 2002, forgetting momentarily that I’m afraid of heights. (Yes, my mind was on the magic of whooping crane migration.) But when the aircraft leveled out and I saw the distance to the ground, about 500 ft, I had my first full blown panic attack. Luckily I managed to conceal it and not terrify the pilot as well, and when we landed safely, I was elated with the whole experience. I went on to take ultralight pilot lessons.
3) I learned to ride horses when I was five and will always love them. During a period of owning my own, I helped my mare give birth to her first foal and later milked her when the foal couldn’t nurse. It was like hand-milking a cow only it was a horse. She was in so much discomfort, she seemed to understand. This saved the valuable colostrum, the “first milk” that protects the foal from disease and infection and provides vital energy. The vet arrived to tube feed the baby the next morning and by the end of the day the foal perked up and life settled into a normal routine.
4) I hate to shop. It doesn’t matter what kind of shopping. Either coffee or toilet paper will eventually get me to the grocery.

5) I love to dance. Jazzercise is my main way of expressing that energy. It keeps me fit, makes me laugh and gives me my dance fix during the week. As an added bonus, it’s another great community! 6) A novel that I began writing ten years ago and finished earlier this year, has changed my life, giving me the courage to try many new things. In fact, it was while researching a novel character that I went out in the field with a wildlife photographer and discovered this intimate way of relating to nature. The work of getting the novel published is my main goal in 2009.

That's me holding a golden eaglet in Wyoming in 2000. What a joy! Photo by Bruce Anderson, TWRA.

Here are the rules to the Six Random Facts Meme:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog.

3) Write six random things about yourself.

4) Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.

5) Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Here are my six tags: 1. The Northwest Nature Nut, 2. Michele at Creative Freedom Photography, 3. Mick at Sandy Straits and Beyond 4. Toni at A Spattering, 5. Monika at Orca Watcher, 6. Shelly at Birding in Michigan.

I hope there are no repeat tags here. And of course, the meme is completely optional. I tagged some friends whose blogs I particularly enjoy. So pay them a visit when you have a chance. And enjoy the season!

We are One

“We are One”, Bo Taylor explained, after an interactive dance that engaged the entire audience in a human spiral that turned in the center of the gym.
And this was the overriding theme of a presentation that both entertained and educated an enchanted audience in Birchwood, TN, on November 15th. Since its inception, 17 years ago, Cherokee history has been an integral part of the Cherokee Heritage and Sandhill Crane Festival.

In 1838, Blythe Ferry, located just outside the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge on the banks of the Tennessee River was a major holding area for nine encampments of Cherokee and Creek Indians. It was here that over 9000 individuals, some sick and elderly, all grieving, waited for months until they could cross and begin their forced journey to Oklahoma in the historic Trail of Tears. To honor those who suffered this tragedy, the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park has been established at Blythe Ferry, adjacent to the Hiwassee State Wildlife Refuge.
Dressed in his hand-made outfit incorporating the uplifting colors of a rainbow, Bo Taylor, a Cherokee Indian from Cherokee, NC, announced, "Anybody can dance. And you can't dance without laughing". To demonstrate this, he led the audience through several interactive dances. And with story-telling and demonstration, he brought together the messages of respect for others’ differences and treating yourself and your heritage with honor.
Above, he recruits Jennifer Perdew, Operations Manager of Ocoee Adventure Company, to help demonstrate absurd and thoughtless reactions people sometimes have to differences. And below, well...let's dance.
Laughter creates community and warms hearts.