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1 March ~2008

It sure felt like Spring today - got up to into the 70's!  I was outside most of the day, at Horse Rescue and then visiting my Mother.  When I got home in late afternoon I went out and sat in a chair underneath my trees, and took in the warmth and peace of finally having nothing left to do.  Ben and Maggie and Amy's cat Gizmo sat with me.

There is no doubt that I make up for my life alone in this house by spending a lot of time in activities that bring me around people - the dancing, my nature programs - even Horse Rescue, where I am one of a team of people who regularly give some of their time to help out on the ranch.   

On Tuesday and Thursday I had nature programs.  The one on Tuesday was to 25 kindergarteners and their teacher at Lookout Mountain Nature Center.  It snowed Monday night, and we were breaking trail most of the way.  We were able to see where deer and fox and squirrels had been wandering since the snow.  One very fresh deer track went up to a log.  The kids were fascinated to see that the deer had stepped right on the log when going over.  (That makes me wonder if it was a Mom soon to have a baby).  Five minutes later we saw the deer.

On Thursday my group saw two Abert's squirrel, including one with a very light brown body and a blond tail.  I have only seen one that color once before.  The other squirrel was black, as most Abert's squirrels are.

When we came to some fresh pocket gopher mounds, I explained that I had read that when Lakota Warriors were going into battle, they would first stop on a hill where there was a fresh gopher mound and pick up some of the fine soil and cover their head with it, then spread some over their horse.  It was a ceremony to signify that they were ready to give their life for their people, and to vanquish any fear of death they might have.

The children take pictures of their nature walk, and then look at them when they get back to school.  What they take photos of reveals what they are interested in, from a child's perspective.  The ones they get of of each other are priceless.

 I look awful old in the few pictures I am in.  The children see me as old as the hills I tell them about - when I say that bison and grizzly bear used to walk through these forests they probably think I saw them.

Tomorrow I will get up and clean the house some, and take a walk with Ben and Maggie, and then meet my friend downtown for another walk the park near her home.  Tonight though all I have to do is take a shower and put on my wranglers and boots and hat and head down to the Grizzly Rose.  I keep it simple there - just dance - or chat a little bit with some of my friends.  It is such a good way to finish my week - being active, driven by music and celebration.  A lot more people used to participate in a regular dance like this before the coming of television.

 If I had my way television would not be allowed on weekends.   Instead everyone would get outside, then go to a dance on Saturday night.  

We are all biased in favor of our own activities, and there are so many ways to live.  I sure like how spend my time, think I have remained on a good path - backpacking with my dogs, dancing, leading nature programs.

It shows what can happen when a person remains single.  You find out who you really are - see how you chose to spend your time with only your own heart to answer to.  Who you become usually emanates from what you love.

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