India

In my circle of friends is a young woman who was born in India and currently lives in India.  Yesterday, trying to find words, she told us what she and her family and friends and neighbors are experiencing in India as a result of the COVID-19 surge.  The heart of the world is torn in so many places.  We do our best to be there for each other no matter what happens.  The internet brings us together in a mysterious and healing way.  We were never alone.  We just never knew it as well as we do now.

Planting a tree in July 2020 in Vietnam

Lagerstroemia speciosa.

Mission Statement from the PeaceTrees website:

"Our Mission is to heal the legacy of war by removing dangerous explosives, returning land to safe use, promoting peace and cultivating a brighter future for the children and families of Vietnam."

Addendum:  It just occurred to me that no one is wearing a mask.  With a little googling, I find this and then this.

"(HANOI, Vietnam) — Vietnamese state media reported on Friday the country’s first ever death of a person with the coronavirus as it struggles with a renewed outbreak after 99 days without any cases."

Come walk with me / Walkin' down the line

After having no energy for walking for most of this social distancing time, the beautiful weather in the last few days encouraged me to begin my spring and early summer pattern of walking up to the top of the hill where I live and home again.  On the first day I went without face covering but realized that without face covering, I couldn't risk foot trails or the narrow under-the-road tunnel.  Bellingham is a walking and biking town with access to a network of trails in every neighborhood.  Throughout my walk I saw people of all ages, about half of them wearing face coverings, everyone maintaining social distance, many on bikes, many with dogs.  There was an abundance of smiling and waving and hellos.

Walking up the street through my neighborhood I saw this.

Here's a view of downtown Bellingham from part way up the hill.  What look like mountains to the west are islands in the Salish Sea.

At the highest point on the hill I can see the Canadian Cascades.

Walking out of Northridge Park into the hillside neighborhood for a block or so, there is an unobstructed view of the Canadian Cascades.

Walking back down the hill.

Crossing the street because I am not wearing face covering and the under-the-road tunnel is narrow.

The under-the-road tunnel.

Down the hill.

I stop, assuming that Big Rock Garden is closed, but it isn't.

The photo above shows a solitary redwood tree that is dear to me.

From this vantage point on our hill, we can see the next hill to the south which is where Western Washington University is located.  When I walked home down this street on Sunday, the air was so clear that the mountain range on the Olympic Peninsula could be seen in exquisite detail, but I didn't take my camera for that walk.

Almost home.

My door is to the left.

Later.  Oboe sleeping in the sunshine on my porch.

Mandala #47 finished.  

Ready to begin Mandala #48.

Today just before 6 p.m. in 2008 was the last time I saw R before he died.  In those last few days before R died, I felt that June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash were close by in spirit, understanding fully what I was experiencing and giving me courage. 

Sending love near and far.

Sending love and gratitude to John Prine

Dear to our hearts

Meditation for March 24, 2020 / "Please Stay Home" / Birds singing before dawn

Spring Meditations with Native American Elders

Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors -- the dreams of our old men, given them in the solemn hours of night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people.  (Chief Seattle, SUQUAMISH)

Our spiritual ways have carefully been given to chosen people.  Slowly, through our past generations, through past conflicts, our Elders prayed for guidance, which the Creator provided.  Then it was passed down to the next generation through culture, ceremony and oral traditions.  Our Indian religion has been tested and is about how we should behave and treat other people, animals, and earth.  This knowledge is written in the heart of every person.  We can find this knowledge by looking inside ourselves.

My Creator, today, when conflict occurs, I will look inside myself for the answers.

(March 24, from Meditations with Native American Elders:  The Four Seasons, by Don Coyhis, p. 5)

The following is from the Lummi Indian Business Council:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 22, 2020 

Community Update 

Siam e ne schaleche siam 

My dear people, as we expected, today the Lummi Indian Business Council accepted the Lummi Public Health Team's recommendation and unanimously passed a Shelter in Place resolution (Reso #2020-055). This resolution is in response to mitigating the COVID-19 crisis by providing a mandate for all individuals living on the Lummi Indian Reservation to shelter in place. The resolution takes effect today, March 22, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. and will remain in place until April 5, 2020, 11:59 p.m. Please do not panic; we are prepared for this. Be assured that certain fundamental activities will still be allowed. Individuals may travel from their homes to: 

 Provide or receive certain essential services, like taking care of family members or to obtain medical services; 

 Engage in certain essential activities such as going to get groceries, medications, fishing, hunting and gathering; and 

 Work for essential businesses, essential infrastructure, and vital LIBC functions. 

LIBC will continue to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the Nation during this Shelter in Place Order. Commodities and the student lunch programs will continue and the Lummi MiniMart and the Cove store will remain open to serve the community. All LIBC employees will be contacted by your direct supervisor with direction regarding your work schedule. 

We recognize that this shelter in place order may cause confusion. Our objective is to take every measure and to ensure the health and safety of our families during this COVID-19 pandemic. We love our people. This resolution is a mandate for our people and families to stay home. It further emphasizes the necessity to protect our elders and youth and prohibits all gatherings of individuals within the Lummi Reservation. 

When it is necessary for you to leave your home please practice good Social Distancing, take great care to protect our elders, and Wash your hands frequently. We cannot stress enough the value of each and every one of our Lummi members. Please join us in taking every precaution to mitigate the impacts of the great flood of this virus that becomes more of a threat to our community every day. Please stay home. 

Clarifying information about the Shelter in Place Order will be released this evening. For more information please visit our LIBC websites or our  outlets. 

It is important to have Sxwolowen at this time, one heart and one mind and one spirit for the work. Che Shesh Whe Wheleq Sen – we come from survivors of the great flood. Sqweshent-lh tse Xwlemi Elhta-lng-exw – we protect the Lummi People 

Hy’shqe Siam ne shcaleche siam Hyshqe xwian ne quol quol 

Chairman Lawrence Solomon

(Note: The following is from the Shelter in Place Order and is am's addition)

1. Background.

Today we are in the same position as our ancestors when the Great Flood arrived. Like our ancestors, we are doing everything possible to ensure that our children have everything they need in their canoes to survive. We want to make it clear that our children need the teachings from their elders; we refuse to give up any of our elders during this flood. On March 3, 2020, the LIBC declared a State of Public Health Emergency due to the novel infectious coronavirus (COVID-19). COVID-19 may cause respiratory disease leading to serious illness or death. The World Health Organization considers COVID-19 to be a global pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports COVID-19 is the most contagious when the person is most symptomatic, but may spread before symptoms appear. The Lummi Tribal Health Center has been actively monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and recommending self quarantine to individuals that may have been exposed to COVID-19. However, the number of potential contacts with COVID-19 has grown exponentially that the Lummi Nation must order shelter in place to protect the Lummi community.

2. Intent.

The intent of this Order is to mitigate the impacts of the great flood of this virus that has already reached our community. To be successful we absolutely need your help. We need all Lummi people and all Lummi residents to be leaders and ensure the safety of our vulnerable populations. The maximum number of people must shelter in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible, while enabling essential services to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. When people need to leave their places of residence, whether to obtain or perform vital services, or to otherwise facilitate authorized activities necessary for continuity of social and commercial life, they should at all times possible comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined below. All provisions of this Order shall be interpreted to effectuate the expressed intent. Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Order constitutes an imminent threat and creates an immediate menace to public. Violations of this Order could subject a person to criminal penalties and/or civil fines.



Always sending love to blog friends near and far.