Thanks To A Long-Ago Teacher

I have been doing a bit of writing lately

OK, I've been doining quite a lot of writing before and after the recent remembrance of the events of 9/11. As I finished a post for next year's 9/11 remembrance, I realized how grateful I am that my middle school English teacher, whose name I don't rememer some some 60 years later, recognized and encouraged my writing skills.

Because of her, I joined the school newapaper, The Scoop. In high school I wrote bout the Russian club of which I was a .member. In graduate school, I wrote news releases for the local humane society where I volunteered and served on the board of directors. I also had several articles published in the city newspaper where I lived. I founded a donor magazine and provided articles and photographs for the publication. I received awards from the Dog Writers' Association of America. 

Seventeen years ago I started this blog. I have only a small following, but I didn't start the blog because I need thousands or millions of folllowers. I write it, as I always have, because I love to write.

People read my blog from countries throughout the world -- Russia, Vietnam, France, Canada, Brazil and dozens of others.

I'm sure my unamed English teacher has passed on, so there is no way to contact her and let her know what her encouragement has meant to me over the decades. 

So if you ever had a teacher who made a big difference in your life, and if that teacher is still alive, I think it would be great to thank that teacher for having an impact on your life.

A Sad Anniversary

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks on the United States. 

And unlike the idiot vice president of this country, who noted that we will soon be celebrating September 11, most sane people will not be celebrating this day. We will commemorate the day. We will reflect on the horrible loss of life that happened that day. We will shed tears as we recall there we were on that terrible day. But it sure as hell is not a day to celebrate.

Some 3000 American residents, some of them immigrants, lost their lives in those dastardly attacks. And life for the rest of us has never been the same. Little things, such as having to remove a jacket or take our shoes off or limit liquids or gels that we can carry onto the plane with us to 3.4 ounces and to be screened and patted down as security precautions in the airports, those are all a result of the events of September 11.

I worked for the federal government in California on September 11, 2001. As I approached the gates of the compound where I worked, I was surprised to see a long line of cars waiting to get in. One of the smaller gate was closed. Traffic at the main gate was seriously backed up. When I finally got to the gate, a guard, and the facility always had guards at the gate, asked which building I was going to. I told him, he closely inspected my badge, and then he inspected my car for explosives. Then I was cleared to drive to the building in which I worked, building N204.

I have written about this day previously. Nearly everyone at our center, except for people deemed essential, was sent home. I stayed and managed the public affairs office’s response to the events of that day. I drafted talking points for our senior management. I coordinated talking points with headquarters. I fielded countless questions from local reporters.

I didn't have time to process the events of that day or to grievee until I finally got a day off work a few days later. I remember foing for a walk during my lunch break one day, as I usually did. All flights had been canceled, so when I heard an airplane about to land at the airfiled we shared with the US Navy, I was panic-sticken. Fortunately, I had learned at a sentior staff meeting that morning that a military flight was expected, so my panic quickly subsided.

Even today, 25 years later, watching video or reading about that day brings me to tears. 

I read something this morning that bears repeating: The best way to honor those those on 9/11 is to be the people we wear on 9/12. Americans, regardless of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity or any other things by which we sepearate ourselves, came together. Grief and anger united us. Indeed, the entire world, even our supposed enemies, came together with the United States.

As NBC News anchor Lester Holt said as he wrapped up the network's coverage of the events of 9/11, "What has happened to us?"

Be Well, Happy and At Peace

May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace. 

I really like this quote that the venerable Buddhist monks use to close their Facebook posts. This is the group of monks that walked some 2,300 miles across part of the United States in the name of peace. They have done similar walks in other countries. This group of monks is based in the Dallas area. 

The monks are Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American. During their walks, they aim to spread mindfulness, non-violence and inner healing. They are accompanied by Aloka, known as the peace dog. Aloka is a former stray dog from India.The group's spiritual leader walked most of the route barefoot despite winter weather.

It was amazing to see how people were drawn to the monks. Everywhere the monks walked, they were greeted by crowds of supporters.

They also published the following: May all beings everywhere be free from hatred, be healthy, be safe, be peaceful and at ease in body and in mind, and may they meet no obstacles in their daily lives 🙏

What a lovely thought, especially during this chaotic, greed-filled time in our country country. Many find peace and solace in their dogs, so it shouldn't be a surprise that so many have been drawn to Aloka.

May he be well, happy and at peace. And may he have many more years of helping the monks spread their message, a message this world is sorely in need of hearing at this time.

The Sparkle Is Gone

Dolly Parton died August 25 at age 80.

She was, in the words of one person on social media, "a truly good person." Those four words sum up Dolly Parton's legacy. I have not heard or seen anybody speak ill of her. She was beloved by liberals and conservatives, by young and old, by people who love country music anb by those who can't stand it.

She was a singer. She was a songwriter with more than 3,000 songs to her credit. She was an actress. She was a philanthropist. Her Imagination Library mailed some 3 million books for free to children from birth to age five. She was kind. She believed in acceptance. She supported the LGBTQ community. A devout Christian, her religion was personal. She never tried to impose it on others. But she lived the most Christlike life of anyone I’ve ever heard of.

There is a burgeoning movement to make 9/25 Dolly Parton Day. The city of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lived, is hoping to rename the city airport after her. I mean, if an airport can be named after the felonious president of the United States, how about naming the Nashville airport after such a good, kind and generous person?

I have never liked country music, but I would listen to Dolly‘s music. She wasn’t the old style country music with all the twangy guitars, so I could listen to her. But I think much of my willingness to listen to Dolly Parton sing was the knowledge of what a great person she was. She was funny. She was self deprecating. She was kind. She was compassionate. She stayed well away from politics. She was a dog lover. She cared about the environment. She was a wonderful, generous philanthropist. She donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University to aid in the development of what has become known as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. When people in her part of Tennessee were suffering in the aftermath of a mess massive flood, she donated lots of money. She was a big advocate of the LBGTQ population.

She was an extremely successful woman, breaking down barriers from the very first days of her career. She was an astute businesswoman. She grew up in extreme poverty, the fourth of 12 children in the family. Yet she never forgot where she came from. The people of eastern Tennessee remained close to her heart for her entire life.

One person online described her as being goodness without self righteousness.

The world will be a sadder, crueler place without Dolly Parton in it.

Fly Free, Jackie

Jackie, a bald eagle with thousands of followers online, died recently.

The foks at the Ojai Raptor Center in southern California worked tirelessly to save this cherished symbol of America. Her cause of death remains unknown, although she was severely anemic  She was involved in a fight with two other eagles, although reportedly her illness was unrelated to the fight. She was rescued as she struggled to make her way through water.

Jackie and her mate, Shadow, were followed by thousands of people in the US, and by millions globally via a 24!7 web cam.

Jackie and Shadow successfully raised  14 chicks between 2018 and 2026. Jackie was believed to be 14 yeas old. For more information about the eagles of Big Bear Valley, Calirofnia, check out www.friendsof bigbearvalley.org.

Maybe, just maybe, this majestic symbol of the United States suffered and died as we sit by and watch this country suffer and grow ever weaker.

Is This Crazy?

 Is this crazy?

From time to time I get a mouse in my house, usually but not always in the pantry. This usually happens as the weather cools. This isn't the case now, however, with temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. But we are in a serious drought, so I suspect the little rodents are seeking water and food.

Last week I set out a trap baited with unsalted peanuts, after finding a bag of peanuts with a hole chewed in it. When I checked the trap a day later, I saw a mouse inside. I drove it to a sparsely populated area about 3/4 mile away, and it scampered away.

I put peanuts in the trap but saw no more mice for aboutaweek. But this morning as I reached for a new roll of poop bags before heading out to walk my dog, I was shocked to see another trap with the door closed. There was a mouse inside, although the trap was not in a place where I typically put a trap. And I have no recollection of putting it there

I grabbed my headlamp and headed out in search of a good release site. When I removed the release door, nothing happened. Then a dead mouse tumbled out.

I have no idea how long the mouse had been trapped without food or water. I don't want mice in my house, but I won't deliberately hurt one. That's why I use live traps.

I left the little mouse where it was.

I'm sorry, little one. 

To Make A Difference

You have the power to make a difference. 

I love these words from the late Dr. Jane Goodall. 

She strongly believed that there is always hope ... but only if we take action. She encouraged everyone to take that first step, no matter how small. Each of us holds the power to make a difference. 

Don't eat meat one day a week. Turn the light off when you leave a room. Walk or ride a bicycle for short trips. Take reusable bags when you go to the grocery store. Recycle everything you can. Think about the consequences of the choices you make.

When I die, I want to know i did something to change this world for the better. I read this quote in a book about people who rescue dogs from southern states. The author of this quote transports unwanted dogs from southern states to pre-approved homes in the Northeast, working with a variety of rescue groups. I read that his efforts have saved the lives of some 30,000 dogs. Now that is the way to make a difference!

I know that I have made a difference to my daughter, whom I adopted from Russia when she was 11 years old. I have made difference to the 15 dogs I have adopted over the years. I have made a difference to the people who received the food I and so many others have donated.

What I have done over the years -- adeoptions, donations of food and money, and my time --are but a drop in the bucket compared with what is needed. It often seems overwhelming and a real uphill battle. But our donations, our kindness, do make a difference. And yes, we don't have to be rich or famous to make a difference in another's life.

I have admired Jane Goodall for decades, and I can think of no better way to honor her than to follow her example.

A Change of Perspective

I got a phone call Saturday from someone at the boarding kennel that I have used to take care of my dogs when I need to be out of town. 

She informed me that the kennel will be closing for good on a date in September. The staff at this kennel have taken care of my dogs over the years for 16 years. The facility has been in operation for more than 60 years. 

The building itself is showing its age, and it doesn't have the amenities that many boarding kennels seem to have: play groups, swimming pools, etc. But the staff throughout these 16 years has been wonderful. They take really good care of my dogs, who happily walk off with whichever employee comes to my car to escort my dogs into the kennel. The owner has also been great to work with. The same is true of the office staff. So to say I was shocked to hear the news that Dan is retiring and the kennel will be closing for good was a real shock. 

I have already booked a stay for my dogs in October, which means I now need to find a new boarding kennel. In addition to boarding, there's a groomer who works there who has taken great care of my dogs' grooming needs. The kennel also has been active in helping homeless animals. 

Another organization runs a pet food bank that is located at the kennel. The future of this pet food bank is now in serious jeopardy. If it goes away, that means untold numbers of people will have to find other ways of providing food for their dogs and cats. I'm hoping that a new location for the pet food bank can be found. 

I have started the search to find a new boarding kennel for my dogs. 

Hearing that this kennel will close for good in September really distressed me. But after feeling sorry for myself because I have to start looking for a new place to board my dogs, I realized that I need to change my perspective. 

Yes, I am being inconvenienced by the closure of the kennel. But my inconvenience is nothing compared to the impact of the closure on many other people. The pet food bank will most likely close. And all the kennel employees, some of whom have worked there for many, many years, now have to find new jobs. Finding a job in this economy isn't easy. 

So I have decided to start doing what I need to do, and to accept the situation in which I find myself. Realizing that the impact of the closure on me is much less than on a lot of other people, makes moving forward without distress a whole lot easier.

This Flag Is Mine

 That's right. 

The American flag is mine. If you're a black American, this flag is yours. If you're Asian-American, this flag is yours. If you're Hispanic, this flag is yours. If you're female or male, gay or straight, this flag is yours. Whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, an independent, a libertarian or a supporter of the Green Party, this flag is yours. If you are a legal immigrant, a naturalized citizen or someone living here illegally while hoping to become an American citizen, the flag is your, too.

It appears that the American flag has been co-opted by the maga movement, that they are, in their minds at least, the only truly patriotic Americans. But patriotism is so much more than simply wrapping oneself in the flag. 

Being patriotic means having a deep love and support for your country. It balances cherishing our country's values and history with the willingness to hold it accountable, striving for positive progress, and respecting the diverse fellow citizens who make up the community. It doesn't mean whitewashing or removing the parts of our country, such as slavery, that are embarassing to us. It does mean accepting and dealing with our nation's mistakes and striving not to repeat them. It means working to treat all people as equals regardless of gender, race, age or ethnic background. 

Seeking to bring in several thousand white South Africans because of the color of their skin is not patriotism. It is racism, pure and simple.

True patriotism is distinct from nationalism. While patriotism is rooted in devotion and civic duty, nationalsim can become dangerous when it seeks power, demands conformity, or inspites hatred toward others. This is precisely what we are seeing in America under the current regime. Acting to remove those with temporaty ptotected status, as is the case today with hundreds of thousands of people from Haiti and Syria who are facing deportation because they happen to have black or brown skin is not patriotism.

There are those who tell those of us who refuse to celebrate America's 250th birthday. There are those who say if we don't love this country, we should leave. Actually, the exact opposite is true. We will not leave America because we love her so much. We refuse to sit by and do nothing while our country, our Democratic way of life, are stolen from us.

The colors of the American flag are red, white and blue. They're not white or brown or black. They are red, white and blue. And I pray that someday soon we will take back our flag and show the world what it truly stands for.

No Celebration For Me

On July 4th, the United States will mark its 250th birthday. 

Compared with many other nations, the US is still a youngster. But with all that has been happening to this country under the current regime, I have to wonder how much longer America will continue to exist as we have always known it. No longer is our country a beacon of hope to the world. Racism, misogyny, greed and corruption should be the new motto of America. We are no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave. We are now the land of the oligarchs and the home of the most greedy. Not much to be proud of, is there?

I am not excited about celebrating this milestone anniversary. Everything in this country has been hijacked by the dictator currently occupying the White House. Recently, he and his cronies held a massive so-called Christian rally on the mall in Washington, DC, paid for, of course, by the US taxpayer. 

We must not overlook the hypocrisy and the irony of the driving force behind this pseudo religious rally being a convicted sex offender, a 34 times convicted felon, someone who has cheated on all three of his wives, who is a con man, a convicted rapist, a racist and a misogynist and who is obviously mentally unfit to lead this country. And let's not forget that he doesn't go to church, and the only thing he worships is money. This is the same person who released an AI generated image of himself as Jesus Christ.

For those who need reminding, the United States is not now, and has never been, a Christian nation. Our founding fathers were very clear about their intentions to keep this country from its very founding as a nation beholden to no single religion. The Constitution itself states that the government shall not establish a religion.

Ostensibly as part of the celebration of America's 250th birthday, but in actuality a celebration of the dictator's 80th birthday, the dictator arranged to have a UFC nofight on the White House lawn inside a huge cage. Supposedly the cage is going to be removed, if it hasn't already, but the lawn beneath the cage has been totally destroyed.

I suspect that I am not the only American feeling apathetic about America's 250th birthday. The political polarization in this country is extremely widespread and very deep. The economy is in the toilet. So many people are struggling to provide food and pay for housing and medical care, not to mention the sky high price of gasoline. And what is the regime planning as part of the celebration? A so called American State Fair. As of this writing, this has been a total flop. Rather than the thousands of people the dictator was expecting, daily attendance has been in the hundreds. 

I think the only positive thing to come out of this alleged celebration of America's birthday is the fact that by a six to three margin, the Supreme Court ruled that the 14th amendment must be followed. This amendment allows that any child born in America, regardless of the immigration status of the parents, is a US citizen. 

It's inconceivable to me that something that is an integral part of the US Constitution had to be ruled on by the Supreme Court. It's also incredible that three of the justices voted to overturn the 14th amendment to the US Constitution. 

So I will not be celebrating this independence Day. I just can't. I love my country, and I hope and pray that before too long we will begin the long and arduous task of returning this country to its former principles and standards.

What I Don't Care About

Things I don't care about, in no particular order: 

The former prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 

The World Cup of soccer 

The NBA championship

The UFC 

Things I do care about: 

Protecting our environment 

Protecting our wildlife, wolves, elephants and bears in particular 

Affordable health care for every American 

Voting rights for all eligible citizens 

Restoring women's reproductive rights 

Keeping religion out of our public schools and out of our government at all levels 

Restoring America's leadership role internationally 

Releasing all of the Epstein files with minimal redaction

Getting justice for the victims of Epstein and his ring of pedophiles, regardless of who is named in the papers

Do Good Stuff Today

I ran across a clip from television reporter Steve Hartman's 'On the Road' features that aired on television for a long time. 

The story that popped up was about a man with his beloved mustang car that he had hoped to restore and drive again. But then he was diagnosed with ALS and wasn't able to do the work. So several of his friends from high school decided to restore the car. Other high school buddies paid for the parts. 

They got the car restored, took the man with ALS for a ride, and then decided to visit him again and again and again to drive him around in his car. In the final segment of the story, one of the volunteers said "Just do good stuff for people. Do good stuff today. "

These men gave the man with ALS a priceless gift. And I believe they were enriched by the experience as well. 

So let's go out and do good stuff today. This world needs all the good stuff weekend provide.

Make Every Day the Best.

Make every day the best. 

I love this quote from a Pennsylvania photographer and blogger named Linda Stager. 

She was writing about her love of photography and her fervent desire to continue photographing the places around her for as long as she can. So, she has decided to make every day the best. 

Isn't this great advice that all of us can follow? We are on this planet for a finite number of years, and as we age, many of us find it more and more of a struggle to do the things we love to do. So while we are still able to pursue our passions, why not make a decision to make every day the best it can be?

I travel a lot. Travel is something I really enjoy and something I have pursued since I retired roughly a 16 years ago. 

I have had people ask why I travel so much. My response is always the same: because I can. I travel because, at least for the moment, I can afford to. I travel because I am in pretty good health for someone my age. I travel because I still have my wits about me. But most of all, I travel because I love it.

Yes, I am much more careful about the trips that I choose because I'm not as strong or as agile or as well balanced physically as I used to be. But after numerous surgeries on both eyes, leaving what used to be my stronger eye pretty much useless for photography, I have redoubled my decision to travel and to pursue my passion of wildlife and landscape photography. I'm hopeful that my team of eye doctors and I will be able to maintain my remaining eyesight, but I won't take my vision for granted.

No matter what your passion is, our time on this planet is finite. So go out there and make this day and every day the best.

No, It's Not Happy Memorial Day

Are Americans clueless or ignorant or do they just not care? 

I suspect the correct answer is all of the above. 

Monday is Memorial Day in the US. But sadly, this holiday that should be a day of honoring and mourning the members of the American military who died while serving this country, has become little more than just another excuse for 3-day weekend. There will be sales and barbecues and lots of drinking. What there won't be, however, will be any attention paid to the real reason for the holiday. Memorial Day, as its name implies, also is not a day for recognizing veterans and active duty military.

Members of the military, as they do every year, have placed a small American flag a boot length in front of the headstone marking the final resting place of thousands upon thousands of US mititary who are buried in military cemeteries. 

Some cities may hold seremonies honoring the war dead. But for most Americans, the day is just another excuse for a three-day weekend.

We need to do a better day of recognizing and honoring the sacrifices made by the 1.3 million members of the US armed forces who have died in combat or who perished from injuries suffered while serving.

Feeling Sparkly

There is an AI character I follow online. 

His name is Bobo, and he is a golden retriever puppy. He recently said something about trying to make other people's and other animals' hearts feel sparkly. 

I love that sentiment. What would the world look like, I wonder, if more people did their best to make other people's lives more sparkly? 

That started me thinking about what makes me feel sparkly. I am writing this post while on a photography trip in Italy. I love this country, its food, its landscapes, its history, everything about it. And of course, I absolutely love photography. 

So the first thing that came to mind that makes my heart feel sparkly is photography. These photography trips are physically hard on me.

Most days we leave our hotel at 4:30 in the morning. We return for breakfast about 4 hours later, have a midday break and lunch, and then go out again just before sunset. I generally skip dinners because I don't like to eat a big meal late at night. 

So the trips leave me feeling exhausted. My schedule is all topsy-turvy. But it's all worth it because the travel and the photography and the landscapes and sometimes the wildlife all make me feel sparkly. 

I wish each of you a beautiful and sparkly day. And thank you, Bobo, for helping me to be sparkly.

Have The Day You Deserve

I love this sentiment, especially when it pertains to magats who are finally learning the hard way what the current regime in power in the US is all about. 

These people voted for this demented megalomaniac, many of them three times. It should have been abundantly clear to them what kind of person he is. After all, he's been a terrible, evil, greedy person for his entire life. We saw what he did and how he acted and how he spoke during his first term. So why in the world would anybody vote for him again? 

And now they're acting oh so shocked and so surprised when his demented actions and words impact them. Now they're learning the hard way that he doesn't give a rat's ass about them or anybody else. His only interest is in himself and his money and how to get more of it.

So go ahead! Have the day you deserve. You'll get no sympathy from me. You got what you voted for. So remember, decisions, especially votes, have serious consequences.

Honor the Light

I am an avid photographer. 

Photography is my hobby, and it is something I absolutely love to do. My favorite subjects are wildlife and landscapes.

As I started this blog post I was sitting in an airport waiting for my flight back home after spending 3-1/2 days in Utah. We had only two days rather than the three we had planned to photograph some of Utah's beautiful wild mustangs. The herd we photographed was habituated to humans, so the horses -- some 150 wild horses -- didn't run away in fear. In fact, there were times when the horses were walking our way and we needed to move so we didn't get too close to them. 

The thing about photography is that light as much as anything else is so important. Without light, there is no photography. And light at different times of the day can make all the difference in a photo. 

One photographer I know uses the motto "it's all about the light." I have chosen the motto of "honor the light." Another photographer I know has as her motto "chasing the light." However the word is used, the most important element to any photographer is light. Is it warm? Is it bright and harsh? From which direction is the light coming? Is the subject backlit, front lit, or side lit? Is it creating harsh shadows?

Light, for most people, isn't something they think much about. It's either present or it isn't. We tend to think about light only if the room is too dark and we need to turn on a light. But for photographers, light is all important and it is something we as photographers of any level need to acknowledge and appreciate.

Light is the reason I and my fellow photographers get up before dark so we can be in position to capture the warm light of sunrise. And light is the reason we get in position before sunset to take advantage of the warmth of that light. Doing photography in the middle of the day doesn't work, because the light is too bright, too harsh, and it produces shadows. 

So aside from all the other benefits of sunlight - - allowing our crops to grow and lifting our spirits - - It is so essential to any kind of outdoor photography.

So Tired

I am tired of being angry. 

I am tired of being upset. I'm tired of being disgusted. I'm tired of being embarrassed. I am tired of being afraid.

What the current regime in power in Washington and in so many states has done to this country angers me. It upsets me. It disgusts me. It embarrasses me. 

When the chief muskrat and his minions slashed funding for NOAA, what did they expect would happen? Meteorologists aren't getting the data they need to predict life-threatening meteorological events. Case in point: the devastating floods in Texas that claimed the lives of more than 100 people, including numerous children. They slashed FEMA funding, which means there will be little to no assistance for people whose lives have been devastated by natural events. 

So yeah, I'm angry and disgusted and embarrassed. Americans are supposed to look out for each other. The government is supposed to help Americans in need. But now, instead of helping those in need, we're helping the billionaires get even richer.

Non-profit organizations are struggling to help those in need, as more and more and more people need assistance. I am bombarded every day when the snail mail is delivered with appeals for donations. I just made a donation to the local Meals on Wheels chapter. I do what I can, but I can't afford to support every appeal for money. And I refuse to donate to any organization if it isn't one to which I already donate. That would just open more floodgates of appeals for funds.

I have to wonder whether the members of the regime, and their millions of magat followers, enjoy eating. If they do, they might want to think about who is going to gather the food they enjoy -- the fresh produce, the fruits, the meat they devour. The people who harvest the crops and process the meat are by and large immigrants, many of them here illegally. Who is going to spend eight or more hours every day picking strawberries or harvesting other crops in back-breaking work? Some regime idiot said that once work requirements for Medicaid recipients take effect there will be lots of people to work the fields. Do they expect the disabled or the elderly to show up to pick crops in 100° temperatures?

Every day brings news stories highlighting the depravity and cruelty of this regime. There's nowhere to go to escape. I have been limiting my exposure to the news in order to try and safeguard my sanity. This has not been easy, as my professional career, all 20 years of it, was spent working with the news media, either for a large non-profit organization or for a federal agency. So news is something that I used to need everyday. I like to keep informed about what's going on, not just in the United States, but around the world.

So how do I keep from losing my sanity? First, let me say, it’s not easy. But as I noted above, I limit my exposure to the news media. I stay physically active every day. I read a lot, mostly biographies or historical fiction. I listen to upbeat music. Sometimes it’s Tchaikovsky or Mozart, but lately it’s been ABBA. Anything to distract me and to lighten the mood. Recently I put together a couple of photo wall calendars, one for a friend and one for me. I am fortunate that I can afford to take a variety of photography trips to beautiful locations.

I know I'm not alone in feeling frightened and depressed and overwhelmed. All we can do is take this one day at a time. Thinking that we still have three and a half more years of his madness is something I can't even consider.

Words

There are some words I just don't like. 

Sometimes it's the sound of the word. And sometimes it's what image the word conjures up in my mind. 

Let's start a list of my least favorite words. 

Snack

Patty

Panty 

Beverage 

Vomit

Merch

Wipes

App

Hack

Crotch 

Scalp

Some people have issues with the word moist. That isn't one of my favorite words, but it doesn't really bother me.

As a writer, I love words. I love playing with words and finding just the right word to fit the sentence I'm writing. But some of the words above I will never use in my writing. Not only do certain words sound ugly, some, even most, of the words on my list, represent something ugly.

Why use these ugly words when there are so many beautiful words to choose? Words can express emotions. They can explain things. They can bring back memories both good and bad.

There are too many beautiful words to use to waste my energy on these ugly ones. 

Unrealistic Expectations

I read trip reviews before I plunk my money down for a trip deposit.

Lately, I have been seeing a lot of what are, in my mind, ridiculous complaints. Many come from people who have traveled to other countries and who had difficulty finding vegan or gluten-free meals. 

These kinds of meals are not so difficult to find in the US, but in many developing countries, I'd guess that chefs aren't very familiar with vegan diets or with gluten-free foods.

One woman complained that while in Kenya, the selection of gluten-free foods was extremely limited. Nobody even offered her peanut butter, she complained. I have been to Kenya and other east African countries many times, and peanut butter has never been part of the diet there. Research shows me that peanut butter is sold in Kenya, but how popular it is I don't know. I have never seen it offered as part of the menu.

I have been known to pack a small jar of peanut butter in my suitcase simply because it is one of my favorite foods. I take a small spoon along so I can scoop some peanut butter from the jar. 

I am not vegan, and I certainly could never be vegan, as I love cheese too much. The same goes for gluten-free foods. I don’t need to avoid gluten in foods. I have read that many European countries have plenty of gluten-free options, but if those foods aren't part of the typical Kenyan or Tanzanian diet, or the diet of other developing countries, perhaps the traveler's expectations are too high. I know from research that gluten-free foods are available, but my guess is the chefs aren't all familiar with the concept of gluten free.

When I travel, I expect to enjoy trying the local cuisine. I was offered kudu (a large African antelope) at dinner once in Kenya. I passed, and there were plenty of non-meat foods to enjoy. The kudu on the menu were farm-raised, but I still couldn't bring myself to eat an animal whose relatives I had photographed earlier that day.

A couple of people complained that they returned from a trip with covid. Someone else returned with a swollen knee. Really, people? Covid is still an issue. Why didn't the people wear masks while on the bus or inside a building? There is, or should be, a certain amount of personal responsibility involved. And unless the tour operator was negligent, somebody's swollen knee isn't their problem. 

I tripped on a log that had washed ashore along a rain-swollen river in Kenya. I fell and broke my wrist, which required surgery in Kenya. It was nobody's fault, except maybe mine for not paying more attention to where I was walking. I didn't blame anybody, and I later stayed at the same lodge twice more. Things happen.

One time in Tanzania, as I was exiting the safari vehicle, I slipped on a mud-covered step, twisting my knee. That was nobody's fault. The knee was sore, but it was fine by the next day. Should I have castigated the tour company because there was mud on the step of the vehicle? Absolutely not. These things happen. I, and the tour companies with which I travel, take appropriate precautions, but things still happen. People get sick. People get injured.

International travel is a wonderful thing that I enjoy immensely. I’m looking forward to more international trips over the next few years. But I think those of us who travel internationally must set our expectations and our demands realistically. Things in Kenya or Tanzania or South Africa or Brazil aren’t the same as they are in the United States. If they were, there would be no reason to travel.

My advice? Travel wherever you are called to go. Take precautions. Be fully vaccinated against whatever is recommended by staff of a travel medicine clinic. Pay attention to your surroundings, but don't expect everything to be as it is in the US. I notice things in other countries that wouldn't be allowed in the US. So it's up to me to remain alert and more observant. Most of all, my expectations must be realistic when I travel outside the United States.