Skywatch, 6:15 AM

Although we went back on Standard Time on Sunday, I’m usually awakened before daybreak because Charlie hears truck sounds and gets up. He whines to go out for a walk. I try to make him wait until there's a little light in the sky, when possible. 

If it’s still totally dark, we only walk up to the last streetlight on the block and then come back. If there’s enough light to see what’s ahead of us, I will walk farther. I worry about things like coyotes and even rabbits. Charlie is a rabbit-chasing dog so I don’t want to encounter one.

Yesterday morning I checked the news before going outside. I was almost sickened by the election results! But then I realized there’s something even more important, and that is the dramatic changes in climate that we are already seeing. Stronger hurricanes, disastrous floods, drought-fueled wildfires… and even in my own lovely valley, crop yields have been lower, and there are water shortages. 

I don’t know how long civilization can thrive as weather worsens. More people will be forced to struggle for food and shelter. More animals will die. We have to fight this! We could even become migrants if our own habitat becomes unlivable. We could be the ones who are not allowed to settle in another place. Then what?

Don’t waste your energy on hating or regretting. We have work to do. Even those of us who are too old to put long hours into this battle can offer support and ideas. We can have a tree planted, fill a bird bath, join organizations, and make thoughtful choices. 

Then there’s education. Wow, there’s a lot to be done there! Lately I’ve been shaking my head at how stupid people sound on the Internet. They don’t know the difference between propaganda and news, or myths and history, or real photos and fake ones. Okay, that last item is really difficult. Seek out articles on AI.

I don’t mean to preach. You already know what to do. Thanks for being here.