My Grown-up Christmas Wish

Every Christmas I hear people saying what they want for Christmas. And every year, the advertisers bombard us with ads for things they think we should want.

This was a big deal when I was a kid. All the kids in my family, all three of us, had a list of things we hoped Santa would bring us. And on Christmas Day and the day after, we would excitedly tell our friends and cousins what we got for Christmas. And although we attended church services, Christmas was all about the presents we got.

I left childhood behind decades ago, and I no longer wish for material things. I have everything I want and everything I need. So here is my new, grown up Christmas wish list. 

l want people who are sick with no cure to be able to be cured. I want children with no families to be adopted. I want people to never have to worry about food and shelter and heat. I want an end to war and to discrimination and to murder. I want people to live in peace. I want people to wake up and realize that planet Earth is our only home, and we need to start taking care of it. I want it into child abuse, and to animal abuse and to elder abuse. I want a homeless to have a safe place to live. I want all the homeless and unwanted animals to become part of families that will cherish, love and care for them.

This, friends, is my grown-up Christmas wish.

Simple Joys

I saw a video recently of a dog realizing that the man in the distance was his 'dad,' who had been away on a long military deployment.

The dog was nervous at first, but once he realized who the man was, he was beside himself with joy.

That made me think about how most dogs live their lives ... full of simple joys. Rolling in the grass. Sniffing a new odor. Going for a walk. Greeting a new person, or an old friend. Chasing a ball. Waking up and giving a big stretch. Drooling at the scent of something tasty. Enjoying, however briefly, their meal.

Maybe we humans don't have the same level of enjoyment when smelling a new odor, but we can find our own simple pleasures. Who among us can resist the smell of bread fresh from the oven? I love the smell of the outdoors, especially the smell of a pine forest. Unfortunately, I lost most of my ability to smell (and taste) several years ago due to an upper respiratory infection (before covid). But every so often I am able to smell something cooking or to weakly taste a special food. So I understand the joys of having these two senses. So I can only imagine what it must be like to have a sense of smell 10,000 times greater than we mere humans have.

Volumes have been written about domestic dogs. On some level, they seem rather simple. Their joy is simple and uncomplicated, But really, dogs are remarkable creatures, with abilities we can't begin to imagine. 

I recently heard that a drug-detecting dog can detect one drop of an illegal drug in the equivalent of 25 Olympic-size swimming pools. Other dogs can detect hidden currency or people. Some can alert a person to an upcoming seizure or low blood sugar. Some even are reported to detect the presence of the virus that causes covid.

These dogs are rewarded for their detection with lots of excited praise and a chance to grab their favorite toy for a few minutes of play. The special toy is brought out only after a successful detection.

Sometimes we humans have to schedule our joys, an outing to a favorite outdoor spot, for example. But it's important to do things, even if we have to schedule them, that bring us joy.

As a lowly human, I've been thinking about things that bring me joy. I love spending time outdoors, traveling, taking photographs, reading, writing, and taking a nap on a cold day.

What are your simple joys?

My Quandary

I have a quandary that has been with me for quite a while.

It involves a decision about what kind of dog to adopt. My favorite dog breed on the planet is the golden retriever. But goldens, especially adult goldens, are nearly impossible to find in the state where I live. Rescues in nearby states refuse to adopt out of state.

Roughly half of the 15 dogs I have adopted over the years have been mixed breeds or non-golden breeds. So I've been thinking, "Should I give up on finding a golden and instead try to find another kind of dog?" Animal shelters throughout the country are packed with dogs needing homes. 

So here is my quandary: I have looked online at several local rescue groups and animal shelters. I'm not seeing any dogs that really attract my attention. There have been a couple of older Labrador retrievers, and I have submitted an application to foster an old (11-12 years), black Lab whose owner died. More than three weeks later, I haven't been contacted about a home visit or meet-and-greet opportunity.

Should I apply to adopt one of the yellow Labs I have seen? I feel bad for the dogs that aren't pretty, or who don't photograph well, or who have other things doing on, such as they don't like other dogs or they have to be adopted with their canine best friend. 

I know that black dogs and cats are less likely to be adopted that animals of other colors. So should I wait and see what happens with my foster application, or should I apply to adopt one of the yellow Labs I have seen available? I know that Labs are energetic, but the ones I am considering are seven or so years old.

In the end, of course, whichever dog joins our family will be only with the approval of my current dog, Jenny.

I have read about people who go into an animal shelter and ask to adopt the oldest dog, or the dog who has been in the shelter the longest, or who has no chance of being adopted. I really admire people who do those things. I am not sure, however, that I can be that person. 

So I guess I will do the next best thing: give a loving home to a dog in need, whether it be a golden retriever, another breed or a mixed breed.

Words Of Wisdom From A Poet

We need much less than we think we need.

I love this quote by the late American poet Maya Angelou. She is correct, of course, but I daresay that most Americans believe that we should get all we can. We're always in search of more -- more money, a newer car, a bigger house, more fame or recognition.

Too many believe that "if only I had" more money, a better job, a prettier wife, smarter kids, and on and on.

What if, instead of focusing on what we don't have -- and often don't need -- we were grateful for what we do have? What if we recognize that we really do have what we need?

OK, I'll start. If only I had better vision. Instead, what if I thought about how grateful I am to be able to see at all. I have been very nearsighted since I was a child of 10. I wore glasses, then contact lenses, then I had surgery so I could see well without corrective lenses of any kind. Then as I turned 40, I needed glasses for reading. After surgery to remove cataracts, I could see well with glasses. Then I suffered the first of several retinal tears and detachments. Several surgeries later, I need glasses for both reading and for distance sight. My right always, always the stronger eye, is now pretty useless for either kind of vision. I visit a retina specialist twice each year for scans and photographs of the interior of my eyes, and I use prescription eye drops in both eyes twice every day.

But you know what? As a photographer and an avid reader, and as someone who values her independence and needs to be able to drive, I am so grateful that my vision remains good enough for me to continue to pursue my passion of photography. And I can still drive safely, although I have chosen not to drive at night due to poor night vision. So yes, I am extremely thankful. And I have all I need.

If only I had more money to spend on travel. Or what if I thought about how grateful I am that I can still afford to travel the world, to visit places I have always wanted to visit or to revisit some of my favorite countries? I have cut back on travel due to the increased cost of trips and airfare, but I still get to take several fabulous trips each year.

If only I could find a golden retriever to adopt. What if I decided instead to adopt or foster a dog in need, one that might not get adopted. I have applied to foster an old (11 to 12 years old) black Labrador retriever who ended up in an animal shelter because his owner died. He has three strikes against him: He is big. He is old. And he is black. Black dogs and black cats are least likely to be adopted. 

You get the idea. I truly do need much less than I think I need. I just need to do a better job of reminding myself of this.

Having Enough

 Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

I ran across this sentiment online somewhere. And I like it. The sentiment seems appropriate during this season of thanksgiving, when we are called to consider our blessings (if we can take a few moments from the ever-intensifying calls to spend, spend, spend on Christmas things) and to appreciate and share our blessings with those less fortunate among us.

I believe it is important not only to acknowledge all we have, both physically and emotionally, but to understand that what we have truly is enough. There certainly are those who do not have enough -- enough food, enough clothing, enough medical care, enough shelter, enough moral support and enough money to support them -- but most of us do have more than enough. Yes, even though many are struggling due to the high cost of nearly everything, we are better off than many in other countries.

So please consider those among us who do not have enough. Too many of our elderly face a season of hunger and loneliness. Too many of our veterans struggle with PTSD and other mental health challenges. Too many of our citizens are homeless or hungry.

I can't save the world. But I can buy an extra can or soup or a package of pasta when they are on sale and donate food to a local food bank, or donate a warm coat to a winter coat drive. The important thing is, I can, and I will, do something. I have enough to do those simple things. Today my local police department is having a food drive to benefit a local food pantry. I have a couple bags of food to donate, as well as canned and dry dog food to donate to a pet food bank that help people feed their companion animals. I will probably make a donation to the local Meals on Wheels organization as well, to help provide meals to the elderly and those physically or financially unable to shop for or prepare meals for themselves.

I recall a story from years ago about an elderly parent saying goodbye to an adult child and parting with the words "I wish you enough." The mother wished her daughter enough good times to sustain her through life, enough pain to make her appreciate the good things in her life, and enough loss to appreciate all she has. You can find the entire brief story of the encounter online.

I suspect most Americans are not satisfied with simply having enough. We always seem to want more than enough. We see this among so many of the super wealthy in our country, who have billions of dollars but still want more. Rather than donating some of their hundreds of millions of dollars to help others, their focus is on accumulating even more wealth.

So as we approach Thanksgiving, I wish you all enough.

Time Catches Up With All Of Us

One thing I learned during a recent photography trip, which isn't about photography at all, is that age is really taking a toll on me.

I had to skip, or rather I chose to skip, some of the walks to waterfalls because I felt like the walk was just too strenuous for me. Walking across, and trying to balance on, rocks while going downhill, isn't anything I'm comfortable with. I am not willing to risk a tumble and possibly a broken bone just to get a nice shot.

In my mind, I'm still a fit and healthy person. And compared with many people my age, I really am a fit and healthy person.

But my balance isn't what it used to be. And along with that has come a loss of confidence. If I'm not confident that I can complete the hike safely, I'm not going.

It's difficult to accept the fact that I have finally reached a point in my life where there are things I'm just not comfortable doing. I hate to forgo an opportunity to see and photograph something beautiful, but it isn't worth injuring myself. And my decision was confirmed as the prudent one by other photographers who completed the hike when they noted that in one case, the rocks were covered with a slippery moss. Still, the local guide made a disparaging comment (reported to me later by another member of the group) that he couldn't understand why people would travel across the globe and then not take part in all of the hikes. The guide in question is an active duty member of his nation's military, considerably younger than I am, and a lot more fit. I wasn't the only person to skip a few outings. It doesn't matter why some people didn't go on every outing. Maybe they were tired and wanted to sleep later. Maybe they had an injury. It doesn't really matter. Going or not going -- it was their/my choice.

It's difficult enough knowing that I'm not the person I used to be, a person who completed the hilly, 26.2 mile San Francisco marathon. I don't need to know about disparaging comments from a younger man and active duty soldier.

The person who reported the comment to me said she replied that the trip was rated a level 1, and that some of the hikes were not level 1. She said people chose a level 1 trip because they were not able or were uncomfortable doing a more challenging trip.

Still, the experience made me realize in a very real way that physically at least, I'm no longer a young person.

Not Feeling the Holiday Spirit

I don't know why it happened, but this year I have lost my interest in donating to charity.

I typically donate to several charities that benefit both animals (dogs and elephants primarily) and humans. But this year, my heart isn't in donating anywhere. And if I do donate, it will be far less than my typical donation.

Part of the reason is the outrageous cost of everything, from groceries to propane used to heat my house, to airfare. I can easily spend close to $100 for two bags of groceries, and I don't buy anything extravagant.

My homeowner's insurance increased by more than 16 percent. Car insurance went up as well.  My cost of living increase? A whopping 2.5 percent.

The other part of my lack of interest in donating to my favorite charities is not so easily defined. Unlike during the past 10 years or so, I have sold zero, no photo wall calendars. I match every dollar raised and donate the proceeds to an elephant charity in Kenya. But not this year. Nobody wants a beautiful photo wall calendar.

The bottom line is, I just don't feel like donating. I particularly don't want to donate to charities that help people in the 'red' states that voted to install a fascist-leaning dictator as the incoming president of the United States.

In the aftermath of this year's disastrous presidential election, I will no longer donate to any charity that helps people in 'red' states recover from hurricanes, floods, tornados or other natural disasters. This may seem mean or unAmerican or unChristian or whatever, but I simply cannot bring myself to helf anyone who voted to put a fascist into the greatest country in the world. I know that not everyone in red states supports Cheetolini, but my donations will stay close to home this year.

Instead, I will donate dry and canned dog food to help local dog owners provide food for their animals. I also bought some stuffed animals for kids in need in my area, but apparently groups that collect toys for kids won't accept stuffed animals. So I will donate those, along with a couple of toys, to a local charity that helps dogs in need of medical or behavioral care.

I have some food to donate locally, as well as toys if I can find a local toy drive. And I was saddened to learn that many charities will not accept stuffed animals, even new ones with the tags still attached. I think stuffed animals are the most comforting thing a child can have. A side from a few small monetary donations, that will be the extent of my generosity this year.

This same person wants to slash or eliminate climate change programs, to slash or eliminate programs that notify the public of incoming major weather systems, and slash or eliminate emergency response and assistance agencies.He plans to remove environmental protections and to deport millions of immigrants, both legal and illegal. Social Security and Medicare are likely to come under attack. So if these people in 'red' states are dumb enough to vote against their own best interests, they won't get any help with my dollars.

This may well be the best holiday season America will see for the foreseeable future.