August 21, 2007
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Musings from Rochester, NY
Wow, well once again I realize time has flown by between my xanga posts. May (the dog), Abie (the cat) and I are in the midst of a month long visit to my parents’, near Rochester, NY. It has been wonderful spending time with them, though I sorely miss living in the forest with daily swims in the river. Being here makes me appreciate all the more the awesome wonder of the relatively pristine rivers and springs around me in the Missouri Ozarks, and the pleasure of immersion in the river with the rich collection of aquatic inhabitants.
Here in western NY we can see and access Lake Ontario from my folks’ home, but due to pollution swimming in the lake is frequently prohibited and streams and creeks in the region also face significant pollution. It worries me that it might only be a matter of time before Ozarks streams become unswimmable too. I feel so much sadness, and at times great anger, that we so often destroy so much of what – to me – is so wonderful about this planet. It is so easy in our modern society to distance ourselves from nature and to forget that in the long run destroying the natural world could easily mean destroying ourselves.
It seems to me that our tendency to inhabit climate-controlled concrete jungles and to view the natural world as a collection of disposable resources available for our exploitation and consumption leads readily to detachment from nature, or was it the other way around? Detachment from the concept that we are part of nature and that by adopting a mindset of greater stewardship we could greatly increase our chances for sustainability of the natural world for our own futures, as well as for the wonders of nature for nature’s sake, and the miracle of balanced ecosystems we humans too readily disrupt or destroy.
It’s late for me, I’m rambling and can’t corral my thoughts any further, but that’s what came up for now. It really upsets me what has happened to the earth at the hands of humans. Uggghh. Maybe tomorrow I’ll feel more optimistic.
Comments (4)
I know what you mean…. the water here in PA is really terrible. But there still are a few, very few places where we can go and enjoy the cleanest water.
Lake Michigan beaches are often shut down too. I agree it’s a sad situation.
fyi…I lived in Rochester for a year before moving to Chicago. I’d probably still be there if I hadn’t met my husband…the reason for moving to Chicago
I miss that area of the country. I grew up in Saratoga Springs, NY, which is about 5 hours east of Rochester. I think it’s beautiful there, so I’d probably be overwhelmed if I saw where you live!
Enjoy your stay.
Enjoy your time with your parents, as I am sure that you are even as you’re looking forward to getting back home.
I’ve often wished that I could have seen the US in the 1700s and/or 1800s. What have we done!?
I very much appreciate your comment on my post the other day about my mom’s chemo. There is a lot going on in my life right now (unposted), and your comment and redletra’s are really helping me feel a little more balanced and a little less overwhelmed.
I appreciate your support, concern, and posts about your own part of the world.
Thanks for the thoughts. For everything.