I have one hour to bang out a blog post before Earth Day begins in earnest for me.

 

So, here we go!

 

Here’s the history of my Earth Days…  as many of them as I can recall specifically, that is.

 

On the tenth Earth Day in 1980, Edward Smith, Cathy Strote and I gathered at Evergreen State College to acknowledge our debt to — and profess our love for — Mother Earth.

 

Edward and I were at my Animal Protection Institute Booth. (Or was Edward at a Cougar Mountain Booth, but we visited a lot? I don’t recall now.)

 

Cathy was at a Greenpeace Booth.

 

Next to Cathy, there was a PLANNED PARENTHOOD booth, I expect for the attendees who were keenly aware that human overpopulation and our industrial activities have a seriously detrimental effect on our biosphere.  (I remember this so vividly because a passing attendee said to his companion loudly enough for everyone manning nearby booths to hear, “Take a look: they’re saving whales here (GREENPEACE) and killing babies here (the PP booth).”

 

Aside: Guys have no business being in women’s business, but they love to pontificate (word used to spotlight the Catholic Church‘s edict against birth control, the absence of which leads to the abortions they also decry).

 

FACT: Planned Parenthood serves many more people of all genders than the minuscule number who seek abortions every year.

 

Edward and I spent some of the time reading our earth and animal-centric poetry to the gathered crowd from a stage when it was our turn to do that.

 

I think Earth Day is the first time I met Cathy Strote, but far from the last. We became fast friends, and remain so to this day. She is a treasure.

 

On future Earth Days I was often in other locations at other booths. I was in Sacramento CA from 1981 to 1985 and I participated in Earth Day events every year I worked there as a representative of the Animal Protection Institute of America.

 

This year I’m meeting with two friends (Lisa and Ben) at the Billy Frank Jr. Nature Refuge (formerly the Nisqually Nature Refuge). It’s located just off Interstate 5 between Tacoma and Olympia. High tide is at 2 PM today and we want to walk the trail and see the sights during high tide. The last time we went, it was low tide, so things should look very different this time.   I expect we’ll walk out on the extended walkways that go right out into the estuary for about 1000 feet or more so we can see if we can spot some seals, otters, and other aquatic citizens doing their thing. (Live and learn:  Hide tide in summer is significantly lower than high tide in winter. Tides vary up to twelve feet between summer and winter. Now we know.)

 

I know Lisa will be taking pictures, and I probably will, too.

 

It’s a wee bit overcast today but in the low 60’s, so we’ll be fine in pants and sweatshirts even if the wind comes up.

 

It’s more or less a coincidence that we’re going on Earth Day, but it’s certainly an appropriate day to go!  I can’t think of a more appropriate day, in fact.

 

I just hope all the earth fans in Tacoma and Olympia don’t decide to do the same thing at the same place, or it will be too people-y.  That wouldn’t be as much fun.

 

Lisa and I are introverts. We’re together a lot doing fun stuff –biking, hiking, grocery shopping, hanging with the goats and cats — BUT we’re not in constant conversation when we are. We understand the need for silence so we can process our own thoughts.

 

And at a nature preserve, low talking helps keep the critters aware of us but not spooked by us. Silence isn’t always key, because silence can also indicate “stalking” to critters, so there’s a fine balance that helps them know we’re not predators and are just stopping by to watch them.

 

With a lot of clueless people around, it can get noisy and be off-putting to the animals.  So I hope that whoever is there knows enough to be quiet but not silent.  Usually when we go, that’s the case.  Environmentally savvy parents teach their kids to be quiet and respectful in designated places where wildlife lives.

 

I’m looking forward to spending the afternoon at Billy Frank Jr. Nature Refuge.  We try to do it at least three times a year during the “fairest” seasons (weather-wise) here in the Pacific North-Wet. Animals act different at different times AND it’s easier to spot them early in the spring before the foliage has leafed out and taken over.

 

I’ll report on what we saw when I get back…

 

T’il then: HAPPY EARTH DAY!

 

Today’s trek. Didn’t see a lot of critters. Took a lot of ambiance pix so I can use them as backgrounds in ZOOM meetings.

 

The slideshow below is from last year’s trek to the same place. Lots of green tree frogs in this one. Didn’t see a single one today…