Various people have described environmental happenings around them this
week - boat house fire in Juneau, flood in Oregon, bulldozer razing,
computer crashing...Acouple of days ago, my landlady knocked on my door
with a present. Barbara is a retired biology teacher/self-styled
naturalist who makes wildflower trips to India and presents seminars at
Yosemite on mushrooms and lichen among other things. She handed me a
shallow bowl containing a redwood burl sitting on water, already
sprouting more than a dozen little shoots. She had brought this back from
one of her many trips - one for me and one for her grandson. In addition
to being quite touched, I saw this a sign of hopefulness. I hope you all
do too. I want to echo statements by others my appreciation in being able
to participate in this seminar - although I have heard about flaming,
etc. this is the first time I have been a part of something like this so
I'm happy to have been with all you fine people. I don't know if this is
my last post but just in case it is a deep bow to all of you.
Cheryl