Easter Eggs

Every year we "have to decorate eggs!" The other day I was sent out to cut down a forest for the perfect "egg tree".

I remember when I was wee-little collecting tumble-weeds that skipped over vacant land in the southwestern deserts of the US. The fun part was poking holes into the raw eggs and blowing out the insides, for the shells to hang on the weed tree.
It was simple then.

Over the years complications evolved. Eggs, dye, and weeds all developed hazards, or projected harmful toxicologies. Sucking raw eggs sends us to the emergency room with E-coli. Dyes can't have decent colors, so eggs look anemic after dipping. Tumbleweeds, and trees, are noxious pests--or, protected and require pruning permits.

So, I wonder what happened to the other eggs? The eggs in a pair that resided inside females who don't lay the kind of eggs we suck, or dye, or hang on easter trees ... ?  Do simple weighted balls, or balls inside balls, not provide the zing needed? Are toxic plastics, battery waste, and metals mouldering in landfills the safe replacement for stainless steel? Has higher evolution replaced low technology?

Happy St. Pat's Day

My two favorite colors:  One, associated with life and growth. The other, with desire and excitement.

Trauma Comes in Units of Three

We've been glued to news on TV and web over the weekend.  I have. It's a family curse, we wait for, and count, as they occur--hardship happens in groups of three. We hope it is over, but I'm afraid the rule will be broken this time.

For people living on the the "Ring of Fire", or the Pacific Tectonic Plate, natural events of geologic scale are reminders of the insignificance and frailty of humanity. Only humans can assess scales of disruption and pain to themselves and their fellows.

For Japan we see the World's leader in catastrophy prevention and response (prepared for such an event) buckling under the enormity of their injury. The safety measures for construction, put into place years ago, saved inumerable lives from one of the greatest earth quakes in recorded history. It might have been an almost uneventful weekend; just 'one for the record books.'

Nothing Japan or any ocean dependent society could do would stop the ensuing tsunami. We see little of a catastrophic earth quake--dust, broken ceiling tiles, buckled roads. What we are in awe of is a wave, a wall of water swallowing everything in its relentless march across miles of coastal plain. And leaving total destruction.

A third emergency surfaced.  Having no traditional resources for electrical power, Japan is threatened by potential radioctive fallout from damaged nuclear power plants.  The only people to have suffered the violent use of nuclear power is close to reliving its destructive capabilities, in peaceful use.

I feel the pain and will hear of the impact of this tragedy on loved ones, family, friends living thousands of miles from the devastation.  My prayers go to a global family member who represents the definition of respect, strength, and social pride.

Not Quite the Fountain of Youth

On her way to 60-years young, Wisdom was first identified in 1956, when she was 5 years old ... doing the same thing, raising her kid. 

And, we complain about the one, or three, we endured.