2001-03-22 - 21:03 MST

March 22, 2001

Another Look

Heather and I had a bit of business to do out in South Denver today, and as usual when out there she drives us through my old neighborhood. The one that was the whole world to me as a kid. A neighborhood, a few blocks of street car line, a few blocks of stores, both Junior High and Elementary schools a block or so away. A little park and library.

Each time I go through it though, it diminishes in size, not in memory -- just size as seen in youth and then in maturity. Everything seems smaller, more inconsequential, more worn. The two room house I was raised in sat as close to the alley as the zoning allowed, which left a sizable front yard. One which was the scene of many boyhood events. It seemed to be so big, a forum and arena for all of us kids. I have seen a few vacant lots lately -- man they are small. Someone built a big house in front of it, but the little house is still being lived in and well taken care of.

Washington Park was a long walk for me when a kid, shorter as I became a teen, but still a walk. Who walks anymore ? Distances shrink when traversing them in a car. Time spent between A and B is short.

I guess a reality check every now and then is cathartic, how ever castor oil never did suit my delicate taste. Driving away from there toward home my old neighborhood resumed the dimensions in my mind that it had when I was growing up.

Spring is on its way and the attendant problems along with it. Seems that many people who live in the hills and near the foothills have a Bambi complex. Similar to the foolishness I saw in Yellowstone when some people were foolhardy enough to feel that by personality alone along with their endearing charm they could approach close enough to some giant animal or other to hand feed it a tidbit.

Officials are trying to see that dumpsters are safely secured to prevent bear scrounging and that people do the same with their garbage cans. Bears, especially sows with cubs are led by Mama bear to where she was given handouts last year. They are probably still in hibernation in higher country but will be nosing around soon. They go for bird feeders, the smell of barbecue grills and pet foods.

Bears are being robbed of their natural environment and spoiled by people trying to make pets of them.

It just isn't bears, but most all wild animals are being crowded out by population growth and becoming pests. Riding from downtown Eugene, Oregon out Willamette Street as one starts up into the hills reflexes are heightened and alertness also, to enable the driver to make split second moves to avoid a deer jumping from the side of the hill and crossing the road. Someone set up a feeding place for the deer not too far from daughter's home -- just down the street a bit, the deer became more of a nuisance than ever. They didn't have to graze for food, just go to the food drop spot and there was dinner.

I read today that some one on the net had lost a pet cat to a coyote. The feline species too are definitely dangerous, and hungry. Sometimes their attacks seem unwarranted -- but they don't have the same philosophy as man, just hunger.

We have the the good fortune to be able to peaceably survive in our core cities, but those out near the boonies should take care.

Population can be dangerous to humans too. I would not want to be facing the problems in California now. Caused by humans dropping the ball on water and power. Both caused by a paralyzed apathy. How soon will we see Californians coming over the mountains to take whatever they need to survive ? That is a joke son. Too close to the truth to be funny though -- hunger and want will cause people to rove and seek. Some Californians sell their homes for big money and move north or where ever they can, to buy a nice place for a fraction of what they sold their place for and not have to worry about power and water.

California has been getting water from the west for years. People in the east don't realize how scanty water is out here. In the old days range wars were not always about fences but ownership of the springs and river rights.

Looks like to me that both water and power will reach critical shortages here in the western states all too soon.

Looking back and looking forward is scary to this Aging Animal . . . . .

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