"In Nature, nothing exists alone." Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
Here we are, another new year at the Little Shack; January with all its political drama has come and gone. I can't believe it is already March! During February, we experienced a once-in-a-100-year blizzard. People around here call it the snowpocalypse, or snowzilla! (typical gallows humor for country folks). The weather professionals even gave the storm an official name: "Uri."
For about three days the weather forecasters had warned everyone that there would be extreme cold, ice and snow for at least a week, starting on Sunday evening. I prepared like a hurricane was coming, closed off my bedroom, and bunkered down. The wind started blowing at gale force; the sleet that was falling turned to snow. By morning the temperature was 6 degrees outside, the coldest I have ever experienced. The electricity had gone out for me and millions of others. It was 37 degrees in my room. My wife, our two cats, and I covered up with six blankets. I turned on a small propane heater that brought up the temperature to the upper 40's. What began nagging my mind was my concern for the wildlife having to endure this unfamiliar cold. I was concerned about this young buck deer that I knew from 3 years ago when he came up to the shack with his mother and sister as a spotted fawn. He had been hit by a car just four months ago and left with only three legs. Crippled, he had now become a loner.
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." -Lao Tzu
In my morning walks, I would him find right next to the shack where he felt safe. I know he had to rest a lot because of his injury. After the storm, there were other deer around looking for food. But I could not find him. I was afraid that either the coyote packs that run through the forest took him down, or he just froze to death. After three days, he came hopping around looking for me and his evening meal. I was surprised he was able to persevere through a week of suffering this unusual weather. Not only was the buck OK but, the other animals that I used to see also. The turtles and fish were swimming, warming up in the now-sunny sky. Birds that had their feathers ruffled to keep warm during the freeze were singing their celebration songs. The squirrels were playing tag, chasing each other up and down the trees.
"We are of the earth and healed by nature." -Unknown
Mother Nature was very harsh that week, but the natural life came through OK. The human population did not fare so well. There was the loss of electricity, no water, food was scarce (and still is). Tragically, quite a few deaths occurred. Burst pipes were the norm. Everyone will be waiting to see if their plants or trees will come back to life this spring. By witnessing how natural life bounced back so quickly and by acknowledging we are part of nature, I have confidence that even though humankind has seemingly separated itself from nature's order with all our technological wonders, we will bounce back within nature's web of life, connected and blessed by a Higher Intelligence and Will.
“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.”
― Chief Seattle
From the Little Shack-- Have patience, we will persevere!
