Saturday, December 30, 2023

These are the days of drizzle and fog. The outside is muddy, and the vision is cloudy. Those who yearn to be out skiing are the only complainers about the local condition of too little or no snow.

I love to go walking in a light drizzle. Dampness in the air, and overall, fosters an atmosphere that is gentle and peaceful and creates an almost magical area. I walk in my neighborhood with my Cockatoo, Peaches, on my shoulder. He loves being in damp air, too, and even more than me, because moisture fluffs his feathers and helps them thrive.

When we’re not out walking in a drizzle, I will spray Peaches with water that’s clear and at room temperature. He loves those showers and raises his wings to greet the warm water. To be honest, sometimes he’s busy, maybe tearing up a toy and uninterested in receiving a shower. Then he flutters around and screams.

I’m used to his screaming. Cockatoos do lots of that. Peaches greets every dawn with screams and says his good nights the same. Besides, he’s a watchbird, sees everything that happens in a large portion of our outdoors, and announces through long stretches. If he has no visual as to what’s going on, he correctly interprets the dogs’ barks and joins their noise.

While very special, my frequent walks through this winter’s gentle and peaceful atmosphere are also worrisome. More warmth from a changing climate threatens water supplies in this high desert area. Our local mountains now host annual snowpacks that are less dense, reducing the natural water runoffs that once abundantly flowed to nourish this essentially landlocked area.

Dear Friends: This area is still magical, but one searches more to find its majesty. Diana