Processing.
Pondering.
Trying not to let WordPress challenges get the best of me.
The post, almost finished, was in Classic format and suddenly zapped to another page.
Finding the still-untitled post in drafts, I opened it- and it had been mysteriously moved to block format – now 8 minutes before the museum closes.
Alas, the post is about fragments and challenges and how life sometimes seems like a queue of dominoes, all in place and ready for motion – depending on how it’s constructed. The WordPress glitch seems appropriate.
Thought it best to send an update; all’s fine, busy with lots of projects and hoping that all of you are safe and well. Replying to comments and even emails has been an ongoing challenge, but please know that all of you are loved and appreciated. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but for now, many of us here in Ecuador remain in a holding pattern. Poco a poco we move forward.
The post is a long one, and forgive all mistakes. Time for the museo to close.
Trying to find order in random fragments.
Could it be possible that my mischievous and creative higher self arranged this seemingly random maze of Life for its own amusement? Unlike the simple concept of the forward motion of dominoes, there are traps and snares to divert attention or provide unexpected options. Like a roller coaster, there are highs and lows, long boring stretches that suddenly dip or dive or careen into tight spirals. Were the roller coaster rides of my youth an important part of my experience so that fifty years later they might serve as metaphors in my musings?
(Sorry, there should be an image here, but Block keeps placing it at the bottom of the page.) I will leave a white space so that you can sketch an ox here if you’d like!
Presently the world seems to be in perpetual conflict. ‘The Year of the Ox,’ my friend Jurg/Jorge reminds me. “Heavy.” The Israel-Palestine crisis comes to mind (extremely ugly) yet all conflict is ugly. Reminiscent of Nicaragua’s last conflict, Colombia’s present problems concern me. People from Venezuela remain as wanderers, always hopeful to return to their own beloved homelands. They don’t want to be here, many of them homeless. They want to be home. Other areas of the world have climate-related exoduses – or political – but again, they don’t want to be migrants, they want a home and food and the comfort of safety. Will the people of the world ever learn to live in harmony? Can we not extend the olive branch, the peace offering, the compassion for our fellow man?
(Please excuse the image absences here.. and the heaviness of images in the second half.)
A year ago, most every literate person on the planet attempted to absorb and analyze the mysteries of Covid and its dangers. We watched as it metastasized across the globe at an alarming rate. Much like a Trojan Horse, it filtered into the lives and homes of the rich and the poor, the sinners and the saints, the healthy and the unwell. Slowly we witnessed what worked and what didn’t; we yearned to slow the spread and dodge the virus. We adapted our behaviors and were more attentive to the quality of our food. Like an awareness of a radioactive leak, we knew that the enemy was close, yet invisible.
People have illustrated the very best in human nature – and the very worse. Where I live in Ecuador most of the people remain guarded about the virus. There’s a poetic sort of dance while walking the sidewalks; people (including me!) respectfully veer to the outside when meeting the other, allowing a berth of space between them. Sometimes there’s a nod or the greeting to ‘Go with God,’ and many times people acknowledge one another with a slight bow. There is even more respect when entering or leaving a doorway; the people of Ecuador are patient with each other – unless they are driving!
Reflecting on the history of disasters and epidemics here, I continue to observe a culture of people who find their way through chaos with a salt-of-the earth grace. They might be suffering; they might be in extreme poverty, yet they will offer you a fresh coconut water or fresh mango or avocado – and wish the other well. There are exceptions, of course, but those exceptions help us to appreciate the angels that cross our paths daily! Just today a shopkeeper added an extra apple to my bag of fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables.
(Picture a picture of the kind people of Manabi Province)
‘We’ do not invite this virus into our lives, and for that I am grateful.
A very dear friend of mine continues to take this virus seriously. Not quite 30 years old, he cherishes his friends and family and chooses to live and sleep on the flat rooftop of his family home – in order that he does not unknowingly bring the virus home to the multi-generational family. There are no walls, and he works on his projects at night in the fresh-air crow’s nest he calls home. He wears his mask almost constantly, lowering it only when sipping a cafe – then replacing the mask – even when several meters separate him from others. The past week brought grief into his life; his best friend, who lives in Quito, lost a brief fight with Covid.
In some parts of the world, life is moving forward, but here in Ecuador, Covid stats remain serious. The mutating virus seems to be playing its own sadistic version of chess. ‘Vaccine tourism’ is a new term, and I ponder the Trojan Horse variants traveling with those passengers to the USA. I wonder how many follow the rules and self isolate for another 7 days. Responsible travel requires extreme diligence. Time spent in airport hubs, one could be in close contact with the invisible enemy or even be a silent carrier.
As much as I’d love to see my loved ones in the USA, the possibility of crossing paths with the virus and its variants seems too big of a risk to take, not only for my own safety, but for the wellness of any person I meet along that trail.
Near my apartment is a cluster of ‘viejos’ who sell soft drinks, water, crackers, chicklets, etc. Their presence gives me comfort, and at night others sometime gather there to visit. I can hear them from my apartment, and I smile. They are an anchor to my life – a constant. If I ever needed help, they would be there for me – instantly. This past week the corner has been empty – or just one lone person there, which worries me. There are conflicting explanations; ‘low blood pressure’ – ‘losing weight’ – ‘a reaction to antibiotics’ – and ‘covid.’
As much as we want our lives to return to normal, we must be patient. When we can indeed move forward, will we resume the same patterns, or will we adopt the holistic options and try to live in better harmony with the planet? Will our attentions go to sundry distractions that buffer us from the conflicts of our fellow man? Will we try to see the stranger through compassionate eyes and not through ego?
My challenge is to remember that many are extremely poor, and to try to find compassion for all, even when landowners scalp a plant-rich habitat.
My own eyes, as you might guess, note the continued deforestation in the area where I live. Sometimes it’s poco a poco, trees whittled away a few at a time, and sometimes it’s a visual ‘golpe’ to my senses. I think about how a human might feel if little patches of skin were taken – here and there, little by little. The skin grows back but is scarred. Then a little more is removed, here and there; what is the threshold when the person becomes sick from extended abuse? That’s how I view the deforestation and then wonder, ‘What’s the threshold? When will we tip the scales and ride the planet’s out-of-control rollercoaster?”
How can a sensitive person (ahem, me) observe this and not speak up for nature’s rights? It appears that we’re already strapped into the seats, but what must be done to keep us from careening off the cliff?
This article says that at 50%, the ability for a forest to regenerate is all but impossible. I think that with aggressive attempts, it can recover, but it will never reclaim its original diversity.
Impending Amazon tipping point puts biome and world at risk, scientists warn
Photo from last October; how many birds in this one ‘trash’ tree. Maybe trash to a landowner, but a treasure for the birds!
You might have seen the reports about the declining species. As sections of the protected forest at Poza Honda continue to be whittled away, I ponder the reasons for some of this accelerated change. The balsas trees were first selective cut and sent to China.. then small tracts were cut so that they could be replanted (monoculture) with balsas – and they are being sent to China to be used in the wind-turbine industry.
https://timbercheck.blog/2020/11/27/is-that-wind-turbine-made-from-illegally-harvested-balsa-wood/
Sigh. Everything is indeed hitched to the next.
White-winged Tanager feeding along the road at Poza Honda
Google Earth now has a Timelapse option to compare the same GPS location over a period of time. The changes to our planet are painfully obvious.
The accelerated changes in much of Manabi Province seemed to parallel our recovery from the earthquake. People needed building supplies, bricks, – and material to fire those bricks and blocks. They also needed money, and selling the trees is sometimes the only option.
The year after the earthquake.
Last week near Santa Ana
Near Tosagua
Along Rio Chone
Even the sacred hills of the Jaboncillo archaeological area are being hauled away, one truckload at a time to be used in infrastructure.
View from Jaboncillo trail to Portoviejo in the distance.
The ceibo/palo santo forest as it should look
A few of the ancient artifacts still on site.
Archaeologists work on site daily.
Who knows the source of recent material trucked in to ‘upgrade’ a curve in the road along Poza Honda. There had been a 3-car length ‘mud hole challenge’ during heavy rains, but the ongoing work looks like they are preparing for an interstate!
Widening the ‘seldom-used public road,’ a term I used to describe my quiet walks in this area.
For a raptor’s view of Poza Honda’s changes, start here – then check the special GPS locations of your world:
https://earth.google.com/web/@-1.10749994,-80.1588888,94.00002675a,49770.20434015d,35y,6.99999862h,0t,0r/data=CjISMBIgNTQ0MGExNzMxYzI1MTFlYTk0NDM4YmI2ODk0NDUyOTciDG1haW5Ob1JhbmRvbQ
Do we really need to widen seldom-used roads and sacrifice more trees and groundcover? The ongoing ‘improvements’ at Poza Honda present true ‘golpes’ to my senses. What is the environmental law concerning work in protected forests? Were there environmental studies? Who approved the work? Did they know that endangered and/or VIP species live there, and that the ability to observe those species might bring birding tourism to their area?
Are they aware that the planet is sending warning signals, and that every splotch of shade, every tree, every protected stream has a strong role?
Tipping Point Puts Biome and World at Risk
This photo, taken in 2019, was titled, ‘Why is there such strong energy in this spot?” – and now it’s wiped clean.
The same view…
Looking at it from the other direction
The Slaty Becard and Pacific Royal Flycatcher area – before/after…
I wondered why such extensive work is being done to ‘fix’ things that were not broken. Low spots presented a few problem areas, yet the aggressive changes remove the old ‘scars’ that had mended and repaired, and where the birds once again thrived. Now it’s sterile and will dump a huge amount of erosion into the reservoir.
Covid placed us into a year-long timeout, and now things are moving forward – and repeating the mistakes of yesteryear. Have we ignored a really big warning sign from our planet? Will we ever try, as a collective species, to live in harmony with nature?
It’s in our best interest that we do.
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
It is always exciting to see you come up in my reader and read all about what’s happening on your side of the world. Sending hugs!
yes, and always good to see you too.. one of these years i’ll be back to that old routine, but for now it remains a challenge. sending you postiive vibes – and a wistfulness to hear you read more poetry!
what a great post – I need to come back and explore more – but wanted to respond to the change in post format you noted – it seems the poets to be are forcing folks to check to block – which is sad – on one hand I get it – need to update and roll with changes – but on the other hand – giving us the option of the old format was empowering and was a gift – made it sweet for those that enjoyed that format – and the stripped down updated block format is supposed to be easier – but only adds to the way the techies of the world want to make the divide greater between those who know code and who do not know it – they want users to use what they want us to use – and change when they say we need to change
maybe it will lead to attrition over time – hmmm = we shall see
—
love the closing two photos on the bike and the bird
and the slideshow would have been nice – and the slideshow thing has been an issue for me too –
thank you so much for your prompt reply – which i missed b/c the laptop did indeed go dead about a minute after the post was published.
thank you as well, for your amazing support – and always positive.. and of course your love for the birds and our fellow man!
awe – that was so nice to read – and glad to be vlog friends – have a good week
It is truly shocking to see the shrinkage of the forest. Shocking because there is still so little awareness of what this causes to the whole planet. Thank you for being one of those spreading awareness.
Oh, and thank you for the amazing video. I am admiring those people who are spending hours over hours building up such huge creations of domino stones and letting them fall in only a few minutes or even moments.
Take good care, Lisa 💖
thank you so much, as always, for your support. yes, i watched the video and thought, ‘i don’t think i could be real nice if someone walked in while i was working on that – and caused a ‘trigger’ to make it all collapse before ready! we have teachers everywhere, don’t we?
thank you as always for your positive energy – given freely to so many!
I would definitely turn into a Hulk. I must not even imagine. But I think this kind of work would drive me nuts anyway. I am a genius when it comes to stumbling or uncontrolled movements…. yes, would become insane… lol
I’m always happy to see a post from you and I’m happy to read that things are going well for you. The rest of your post is full of things I’ve thought about before even though they’re not happy thoughts. I’m sorry Covid is still such a problem there. I’m at the end of the second day of the three-day drive from Arizona back to Naperville (Chicago area) for a nice long visit with friends. Many of the places don’t have mask requirements any longer and that feels rather nice, although I still keep a distance and have a mask in my purse to use if needed. Thankfully our entire family have been vaccinated, which makes me happy. Also sorry to read about your struggles with WP. Bad enough that internet is such a hassle. 😦
Take care and stay healthy!
janet
It’s always so great to get your smoke signal – and to see how you’re always uplifting others – in comments but with every post you publish. you are a gift to all.
I hope that your road trip has gone well – i’ve always enjoyed those long stretches – it allows the mind to get quiet…
maybe vaccination options will improve soon – our newly-elected president takes the reins tomorrow!
Oh, I hope things go better for you, Lisa! I’m having such a wonderful time here. I got such a warm, loving welcome from everyone on praise team when I arrived at practice and was filled with joy to see them and sing. I’ve already had a great time with the friends I’m staying with and I’ve only been here 3 1/2 days. Saw some other dear friends tonight and tomorrow a couple more. Life is good.
I really do enjoy driving trips for the most part. I think, listen to books on CD, a/o look at the scenery. The trip went well although I ran into some rather bad rain on the first day and more rain the second. But all in all, a good time.
Take care and I hope we can talk again soon.
Lisa, many thanks. I love your strong closing argument. Thanks for the tour and pics. Keith
Thank you Keith, and yes, I wish that everyone had a compassionate attitude about the species that cannot speak up. You do your role in speaking up -even for those who can – but don’t! Thank you!
When you’re older (like me) you may have already heard of Earth changes caused by
non other than us human beings. We have been messing with our home for quite some time. Even if we stopped today, would it be Ok in 10 years, 20 years, or 30?
How long would it take Lisa? Meanwhile we just go on living as if nothing is happening.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride… often times I wish that you could be here – or me there – and I sit at your feet and do nothing except listen.
You surely help many others hold down a calm GPS point on this planet. You are right of course, and of course the ego sends up these – ‘but what if -‘ thoughts, my main one is that of compassion for the flora and fauna. The sensory input can be strong.
Just recently I ‘happened’ upon an article about a new ‘term’ Aphantasia – and thought, ‘Eureka- that’s me..’ — I thought that only a few people could visualize things in vivid realness – and not the other way around. More reading is required on my end, but maybe – because I do tend to study things in real life really strong – b/c the inability to recall it when away – is why visual things affect me? ah, more reading!
https://aphantasia.com/what-is-aphantasia/
Bless you Eddie, I will hold your words close to my heart and ponder them for the rest of the day.
Great post, it will get better , not worse.. stay safe, love and hugs
News this week that someone at Poza Honda has dengue.. Remember to stay diligent w/your repellent!
Tomorrow marks a new chapter for Ecuador, and I hope that we step out of these dark covid times – one day at a time.
Thanks! Love, Lisa
So pleased I came across your post today dear Lisa.. as I delve back here in WP….. As I stick in my reader for most of the day..
Ironic that my recent reposting of the The Elder Tree….. speaks about Regeneration and Renewal.. in Part Two… How Trees have been used by mankind, and how we have abused Nature and her resources, taking and never giving back… only for greed and profit..
Nature teaches us many things.. As we are taking out the Lungs of Nature.. So we now are finding it hard to breathe both with virus and behind our masks… Many also not understanding how our own toxins behind the constant wearing of masks is also causing illness.. My Son fought for his life with Bacterial pneumonia and blood clotting on his lungs.. after months of forced Mask wearing at work… Only now has gone back after four months of illness..
Nature will find her balance eventually I am sure… Whether or not Mankind will still be around to witness it… Well, that is another matter…
We have been the cause of so many species extinction…. Maybe Mother Nature is showing us when we tamper with nature, she too can deliver a swift blow….
The Domino video amazing….
So many I wish in high places that Domino effect to begin.. We need to be advocates for Earth, and our Sovereignty within her… As we learn to live in harmony and with respect for her and each other as well as ourselves…
Good to know all is well Lisa….
Sending love.. and Yes WP Edit is now a bigger hurdle we have to navigate through.. ❤
Much love ❤ Sue
Your elder tree is amazing, as were the earlier images/post as well. The laptop, having served me for four years via backup battery mode whle using the wifi connections of the world, is not very tired and goes dead fast. Most times I can load lots of pages then read them at home – so I’m able to be what I suppose might be called a lurker – ha!
Before the 7.8 earthquake, I observed the accelerating changes via deforestation, etc, and I kept thinking, ‘Mother Nature is going to try to buck us off…”
Glad you liked the dominoes – it was easy to find a video – thank goodness, and i watched only a few seconds to see that it would work for the post. the spiral design of course was perfect!
I hope that you and your loved ones are now finished with health challenges – and the rest of this year is better for all of us. Sending you love from the equator. Lisa
Thank you Lisa… Loved your reply… And yes the spiral effect perfect in your Domino video…
I don’t think Mother Nature has quite finished with her lessons for mankind just yet… But I am hopeful more are awakening slowly to know you cannot play God and mess with her creations, both animal and Human!… And not face the consequences…
Thank you my son finally is now back at work after four months of recovery… He is still taking things day by day, but he too got a wake up call… And is now no longer taking life for granted… So lessons all around…
Many thanks for taking time.. Love that you ‘Lurk’ in the background….
I have taken time away from my blog, to create and I have loved it….
Sending lots of love right back dear Lisa.. Keep creating! and being Mother Natures advocate..
Lots of love from the UK… ❤
Your world is so different from ours, like another planet. Nevertheless, we like to read what’s going on in your world. Thank you very much for sharing.
We live in an area where lots of money is spend for conservation. It’s not only an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) but also quite a big nature reserve and marine park. Here the discussion is how to preserve nature and let people live in it. Well, we are part of nature as well.
In comparison we are not only quite rich here but highly educated as well and can afford to protect nature. We suppose the change of our attitude to nature has to start in our heads. It’s our concepts.
Anyway, these are daily discussions here and we learn that naive arguments don’t help at all.
All the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
“Like another planet…” I chuckled – for sure – yes, it’s very much like another planet in so many ways. I also treasure staying in touch with all of you and seeing the world through your vantage points. Spending time with book fairies and gorgeous images with you four is like stepping into a dream!
There are areas in Ecuador where the locals present a strong united front, yet there are other areas that – as you wisely noted – are very poor.
Thank you, as always, for your support. Lisa
Thank you very much, dear Lisa.
We experienced the same with the locals in Guatemala. I will not judge but can only say that’s not my world and it’s not a world I would like to live in.
Thank you very much for your kind words
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you for this melancholy, meditative post, Lisa – leavened by flashes of the beauty and kindness of people to one another…and I send my empathy for the hassle caused by our being forced off perfectly adequate Classic WordPress! I haven’t been posting much, for that very reason….however, I am beginning to get the hang of it, slowly. Hope you are too.Sending a warm hug ,Anne x
Hola Anne, and as always thank you! I mentioned to Linda that sometimes I think that the devil’s behind these changes – saying, ‘Ha. You think she’s a good person – let me keep tossing hurdles in her path via Block appearing out of nowhere… then putting more hurdles that make it difficult to find the original version.’ !!!
Full moon/eclipse – of course I peer up at that waxing moon and send thoughts in your direction!
Love
Lisa
Hello Lisa: thanks for your updates…
Thanks Stephen! Wish you and Xio were closer to provide feedback.
Lisa ~ I need to take time to read this again, but… check your email!
A lovely, sensitive post, filled with your concern for the world, and a good bit of information that isn’t always available to us here. Even in our techie world here, the rush to use up resources is continuing; Silicon Valley may not be cutting trees, but blockchain technology and bitcoin mining are coming under increasing scrutiny. I hard understand all of that, but the energy used has to come from somewhere.
It’s good to hear from you. I sent along an email that may ease one difficulty a bit. If it doesn’t, let me know!
Your feedback is always helpful – and encouraging, etc. It’s always a challenge – to observe and try to stay neutral or to know when to speak up, etc etc.
As for the WP hurdles, sometimes I think that the devil’s trying to get the best of many of us thru these changes!
Well, there’s a line in the Lutheran liturgy for baptism that asks, “Do you reject the Devil and all his empty promises?” The best answer is “Yes!” — that probably works for WP, too!
Oh, such a roller coaster blog this time, Miss Z. Progress – two steps forward – one step backwards. On constant is the people that have accepted you in your new land.
Here in the US, COVID is still a source of politics. I am so thrilled that almost all of my immediate family have at least one shot, with the opening of shots to 12 and 16 year olds. Just the 11 year old grandchild.
The before and after photos of the rape of the country are so sad to see.
And then there is the stupidity of WP who don’t believe in ‘if it ain’t broke. Don’t fix it’.
And until your next post Stay Safe and via con Dios.
Si, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Ditto on the road work; someone wrote and said that a vehicle slid off, and it was a challenge to get it out. (the rainy season has been fairly kind – not too much, but not too dry either – though in the Sierra they’ve had some tough flooding.
It would be such a joy to meet you and your family in person – you’re always the caballero!
And I could think of nothing finer than traveling to meet you and your wonderful friends, but alas. My wife is from Mexico and was always so great to go to Mexico and meet the wonderful people of her youth.
Always good to get an update from you Lisa, and to know you are well, if not exactly happy with the changes around you. And all of us. I must admit I’ve gone from optimistic to pessimistic to just simply loving. It’s better for my stress levels.
Much love to you. Stay safe.
Alison
I wish we could, as a collective species, attempt to live in harmony with nature, but we seem unable to take the necessary long view. It’s very depressing.