Friday, December 11, 2020 Only 20 days remain in this year.

Occasionally, I read something that’s mind-stretching and transports me from my known world. A recent NYT Magazine issue has an article entitled, “The Social Life of Forests”–a stunner that describes “the underground life of forests”. That’s a lifelong passion of Suzanne Simard (Professor of Forest Ecology, University of British Columbia). She’s proved that a forest ecosystem exists, in which trees exchange communications and nutrients through a “subterranean circuit”–the web of roots and fungi comprising an underground network. The article, written by Ferris Jabr, with Brendan George Ko’s gorgeous photographs, can expand common ideas about this planet’s environmental and evolutionary processes.

Simard’s work today is featured in textbooks, and widely taught in graduate-level classes on forestry and ecology. Also, her work was the inspiration for a central character in a 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Overstory”, by Richard Powers, which impacted many readers.

Here’s a link to the NYT Magazine article, not a quick read, but well-worth time and thought: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/02/magazine/tree-communication-mycorrhiza.html

Dear Friends: In Nature, everything living and thriving relies on effective social structures. Diana

Thursday, December 10, 2020 (21 days remain in 2020)

The girls again are grazing on a wonderful pasture down the road. Early yesterday, I walked them there and left them for all day. As daylight waned, Sunni was the first to spot me returning and still at a distance. She alerted the others and initiated an elaborate group display of running, bucking, and faux-kicking.

Rosie in her early twenties still is drop-dead gorgeous, and in action moves beautifully, a dream to behold. Sunni is Rosie’s full sister, younger and built slightly differently. When, as yesterday, Sunni’s rear goes into full-drive action, she’s a mirror image to her big sister, a moving beauty.

Pimmy donkey follows her horses and imitates their action. It’s fun to see her energy up and watch her cute, stiff-legged canter. She keeps enough distance from the bigger girls to dodge the action and faux-kicks, does some faux-kicking herself.

My problem is walking all three equines to and from this pasture. Long-legged Rosie has a big walk. Pimmy is slow, a drag. I constantly try to slow Rosie while pulling Pimmy forward. The donkey naturally prefers to move cautiously. Most irritating is that Rosie knows how to walk with a handler, to keep her head at the handler’s shoulder. She takes advantage when I’m coping with several lead ropes. Thankfully Sunni is easy, but leading all three is hard work.

Heading into another winter of pasturing, I try to reassure myself. (1) Challenging physical work is good for me. (2) Our continuing group walks will have the animals becoming easier to handle. Unfortunately, in a shadowing yawn, we’ve been there, done that, it don’t get better.

Dear Friends: It’s a life process: we get up, hope for the best, and carry on. Diana

Wednesday, December 09, 2020 (22 days remain in 2020)

Yesterday, an astonishingly beautiful day, warm with clear skies, invited outdoor activities. In my world, of course, outside translates often to horseback riding. My friend Anna came over, helped to gather the horses from a pasture down the road and lead them home. We saddled, rode, and even in this familiar neighborhood, explored and discovered a new pretty path to ride.

We also “discovered” my neighbor, Frank, outside and about to drive to Worthy’s to pick up his beer order. He paused, we briefly caught up with one another. I’ve been working nearly full time and missing formerly frequent visits with Frank and/or Annette over the fence between our properties. They’re comfortable friends, and so yesterday, I self-invited myself over soon for one of Frank’s fancy beers.

Nothing compares to great neighbors. Early this year with Covid fears running very high, Annette became concerned about aging neighbors at risk for the virus. She walked the local area, knocked on doors and introduced herself, offering to shop for others. While gathering groceries for herself and Frank, she filled others’ needs-lists and delivered. She shared some hard-to-find supplies. I was in self-isolation, fearing the virus, and grateful for Annette’s kindness.

More about Frank and Annette. Years of living next door has shown me they’re special. Now, writing in a thoughtful mode, here’s an explanation. Frank and Annette are strong individuals, able to care about others and willing to assist when needs are appropriate to circumstances.

Dear Friends: They, and similarly fine others, make this neighborhood wonderful. Diana

Tuesday, December 08, 2020 (In 23 days, 2021 will arrive.)

Today begins my weekend and will be busy. A neighbor, whose pasture is a quarter mile from my house, is allowing my horses daily to graze there same as last winter. Traveling to and from his pasture will have me walking with three equines on a road with light vehicle traffic. Last year, on seeing us, vehicle drivers kindly slowed and waved.

My plan early today is to walk the horses to that pasture and leave them for several hours, until early afternoon when my friend Anna will arrive to ride horseback. We’ll stroll through the neighborhood, and afterwards, might have enough daylight remaining to practice loading the horses into my straight-in trailer. With practice, they’ll begin entering the small trailer confidently, and exiting backwards without fearing its ramp.

Yesterday, my friend and coworker, Annabelle, helped me lift a large utility sled (with runners, vehicle tow package, and rear reflectors) into a shopping cart. We somehow stuffed everything into my small car, and at my barn, dragged all from the vehicle. Thank you, Annabelle!

During past snowy years, a smaller utility sled has carried hay to my horses. Sometimes I’ve wished it capable of hauling more hay in a single trip. That’s what made a bigger sled appealing. Initially, the store had in stock eight or nine sleds. As I hesitated they disappeared, and yesterday, the remaining one fed my impulse. It must have had my name on it for Annabelle was available, and now, it’s parked in my barn, will help mucho during our next snow.

By the way, whether snow falls this winter is a gamble. The news have reported that last month was the warmest November on record–wonderful for horseback riders and confusing to ranchers. Nonetheless, experience teaches that regardless of the odds, one always must be at-the-ready. So now, awaits a hay chariot.

Dear Friends: Relationships between the natural world and climate are mind-bending. Diana

Monday, December 07, 2020 Pearl Harbor Day. Another 24 days remaining in 2020.

This must be a short hello. It’s early-early a.m. and soon I must tread toward the barn to feed horses. Only a very tight early schedule will let me clock-in at work close to an eight a.m. starting time.

I’ve written about working mostly part-time in Central Oregon’s single Costco. Only those who’ve been inside a Costco in early mornings before the store opens, know it’s totally “another world”. Pre-opening Costco is a busy, zipping go-car track. Costco’s crazy-zippers aren’t go-cars but honking herds of fork lifts, speeding and noisily rambunctious, until exactly the moment Costco’s doors open to its waiting public. Then suddenly for a couple of moments, there’s a miracle of absolute silence.

Trying to describe Costco in early mornings has consumed the available writing time. For now this morning, and until tomorrow, here’s wishing everybody a good day.

Dear Friends: Effective pre-work schedules underline good workplace performance. Diana

Sunday, December 06, 2020 (25 days left in 2020)

This day starts another round of managing a business organization and my home base. Home base includes large animals needing care, in early morning still-darkness and late afternoon early-darkness. Winter-short daylight hours increase the difficulty of handling work.

Yesterday, a casual friend shopping, where I work in Costco, paused to say hello. She looked tired, seemed sad. Said she’s unhappy that for months she’s not exercised in a gym, and fears her muscles are weakening. Worst, she’s a horsewoman, and lately, has no interest in saddling-up and riding.

Maybe she’s over-isolating and has become depressed. Many customers do seem closed away, some focused heavily on keeping at a distance from others seem particularly unhappy.

A pitifulness in this Corina-Virus era is having to self-isolate. Normally, even the most intrepid loners find ways to socialize, among a few friends or by hanging out in public places. A dramatic reduction in social opportunities creates a problem, meaning in a sense having to “go it alone”. It forces individuals to inner-focus on their most personal selves. Comprehending one’s potential for wider interests, temperament styles, physical capabilities, and economic situations, may reveal options to help individuals keep feeling okay.

It’s apparent among Costco shoppers that many do the inner work well, are getting along. But like my friend yesterday, some not so much. Talking with her helped me understand that my desire to work associates highly to wanting to be out and among others.

There also are the masks. Many who still complain about having to wear a mask are sporadic wearers. We who daily and for hours wear masks now barely notice them on ourselves, but are highly aware of masks on others. We’re cautious around those with masks beneath their noses or chins. We’ve cycled through a “masked learning curve”, calling for recognizing individuals by other than noses and mouths. There are identification clues in eye colors and shapes, eyebrow sets, hair-styles, skin colorings, and unique ways of moving and standing.

Maybe this semi-isolation period soon will end. Many express confidence it will, but who can know? For certain, nearly everybody can understand the awfulness of feeling anxious, depressed, and sadly helpless.

Dear Friends: In just 25+16 days, or 41 in total, optimism may more widely blossom. Diana

Saturday, December 05, 2020 (26 days more of this year)

Here’s the best photo I’ve taken of geese flying overhead which they do frequently and noisily. My photo is fuzzy because I lack a camera with zoom lens and stop-action capabilities. My old dependable zoom is well past its prime. I love to capture birds, haven’t for a long while, because photos turn out like this “geesey failure”.

My sad situation is being fixed thanks to a couple of regular customers at Costco. Yesterday, Steve and Bonny, customary Friday shoppers showed up, excited about their new camera. They described its assets and ease of use, causing me a jealous spastic. They will be able to capture birds!

I love photographing distant birds up close! Last night, inspired, I researched cameras and now have discovered QVC online! Oh pity me, unable to resist self-indulgence. More buys than a duplicate of their camera are on the way.

Sporadic impulsive behavior, my downfall, recurs in winters. Immune to shopping I consider myself, but I ain’t. All’s worse because I must survive Oregon’s real winters. As temperatures transition, often suddenly, from warm to cold, the marketed winter wear encourages images of warmth and sturdiness against harsh elements. We who have large animals brave heading outside early on every freezing morning. At least, after last night’s splurge I’ll feel warmer.

And again, able to take bird pictures. Thanks, Steve & Bonnie, for the camera review and recommendation!

Dear Friends: Happily, my addictions avoid alcohol, drugs, and dangerous living. Diana

Friday, December 04, 2020 (27 days left…. )

I missed it! The second day of last February, 02/20/2020, was a palindrome–a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backwards as forward. That was the only, after the last 900 years of dates, to be a palindrome.

Besides, the 2020 date is extra special. Unlike other palindromic dates, such as 10/02/2001, last February’s date is a global palindrome, one exactly the same either in the DD/MM/YYYY format or in the US standard of MM/DD/YYYY.

For the record, in every 10,000 years there are 366 palindrome days. Since we won’t be around to witness the next, which will arrive in 101 years, let’s wave in belated acknowledgement to last February’s extra-special palindromic event.

I love palindromes. Many years ago, I worked in the aerospace industry and supported a group of scientists. We got into a game of finding or thinking up new palindromes. We jotted palindromic words and whole lines on a blackboard near my desk. Staring at it often captured my imagination, got into my head, and in a palindrome mode I scribbled, hoping to come up with something original. But dreaming up palindromes was beyond my talent, the trained scientists proved better at it.

Our palindromes provided lighter moments of fun, in an environment where workers otherwise focused on technical analyses and productivity. Our thinking team spontaneously jotted on the big board many famous palindromes that still today make me smile.

Bummer! That I missed the significance of last February 2. That day, plus those before and after, I’d have rethought palindromes and history. Those always trigger memories of that former special workplace and my hours of fun in sync with very creative thinkers.

Dear Friends: A blast from the past often may prove simply irresistible. Diana

Thursday, December 03, 2020 (only 28 days before 2021)

During these year-end crisp and clear days, I feed the horses early, before walking them across the road over to my neighbor’s. Depending on my schedule, on pasture they may spend some hours or all day grazing. It’s wonderful having generous neighbors who don’t mind baby-sitting the horses, and in fact enjoy watching them. For me, it’s just great to know they’re semi-loose and enjoying themselves. Often I hang around a few minutes to admire them.

This week, they’re especially admirable with manes and tails newly brushed. After letting their manes and tails go au natural for the longest time–like they were in dreadlocks–I picked up a brush, went to work. Once having got them untangled, with just a few morning minutes of re-brushing, everything stays smooth. Hello, my now pretty-tailed girls.

Equine photo ops aren’t complete without whiskered nose close-ups. Maybe you recognized Pimmy in the header photo, her nose distinctive, inquisitive, seeking treats. The horses’ noses offer warm sweet gusts and equally are fun, cool captures.

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My dogs don’t accompany me and the horses across the road for my neighbor has dogs, a pair of old, super-sweet lab and golden types. He says they showed up years ago on his CA ranch, stayed, and moved on to Oregon with him. Cody is a bit younger, Katy up in years and slower. Both travel down the grassy hill to greet me before returning to their warm beds.

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Dear Friends: Some sweetnesses, free and easily obtainable, that infuse joy into moments. Diana

Wednesday, December 12, 2020 (29 days left in 2020)

Years ago, I noticed Gary Larson’s work when his sheep cartoon put me into paroxysms of laughter. At that time in my young working life, employment in the huge aerospace industry had me feeling helpless and trapped. Helpless as a non-technical woman in a man’s world, and trapped because I needed the job. Always exploring alternatives, I concluded that interviewers for decently-paying positions preferred candidates with technical expertise and/or a male body. With my liberal arts education and certain physical shape, I wasn’t in demand.

Gradually, women began to comprehend how to lead large organizations that had been built on technical expertise. Slowly, some entered large workplaces in leading roles, and most credited their dads with educating them to a male world of leadership. Their dads encouraged them to be brave. Eventually, women proved capable of leading and organizational rules eased. Women workers were permitted to wear slacks and flats, to travel with male colleagues, to (carefully) express opinions in meetings. As opportunities to support large corporate initiatives expanded for line workers, more men and women, myself included, became unstuck and landed roles that more challenged our minds and imaginations.

My memories of corporate life are ever more active as Joe Biden introduces his administration’s highest-level officials. Important to him are women and people of color. They will be prominent, have power, and alter a long standing social order based on assumption and opinion. The traditional social order segregates individuals into categories, qualifying or disqualifying potential, based on physical characteristics and income levels.

I applaud Joe’s choice for VP and especially that Kamala’s not a token appointee. He’s allowing her an active voice. His additional picks demonstrate forward momentum toward a newly productive, really exciting society. I’ve worried about diminishing opportunities for young people, but in a future that breaks barriers to fairness-for-all, our youth population appropriately will find jobs in leadership and supportive roles.

That’s what drew me to Larson’s “Far Side 2021 Calendar”, to enjoy his observations. Here’s one that recognizes a changing order.

Dear Friends: Biden’s success in the long term depends on his winning the Senate. Diana