In the midst of all the lavaflow of current capitalist flameout, Nancy and I retreated for a walk up the hill to where the great blue herons have been nesting for years. The newborns now stand three feet tall in deep nests of thick dead branches. The elders come and go .
Next to our little 1897 cottage is a huge 150 year old Monterey cypress tree and these herons seem to use her as some sort of fulcrum. They fly on one side while going down to feed at the estero and back to their nest on the other side. As we sit on our backporch at dusk with a bottle of wine, we notice their neighborhood orbit.
At the end of our day, we speak of the pressures we feel. We always stop when we hear the prehistoric cry of the heron as it passes overhead, loping in it's gang ly yet light motion. I think about the mutual community we inhabit.
I am wondering about the center of my orbit? What drives me to and from that which nurtures me? I realize that I have spent my whole life in motion. Some of it with intent yet most caught up in the pure, pointless whirl of movement itself. But I don't really have a knowing of the flight of the heron. Perhaps just by noticing then there is a relationship.
I doubt seriously if the City Manager, who offices meters away, gives a rat's ass about the heron, so maybe its my story. We already defeated his coup d'etat of trying to bull dose the neighborhood for a new "civic center" so I am more convinced than ever that preserving inherent community systems is vital. Lately we have been engaged in preserving historic symbols (people, buildings, land, views...) that serve to inspire as we were inspired. Yeah right, try that speech at your local planning meeting. But I am inspired by those who move through adversity and bullying. I live in a historic neighborhood, within a historic city and am surrounded by powerful symbols of resilience: people, herons and architecture alike.
I was taught long ago that I am the one who brings unique meaning to what is before me. If so, then what now? This has made me reconsider my building art. I believe our historic buildings have an embedded energy (labor created, past materials of far solid value used, structure far stronger than allowed today, etc). To create a new building using materials and fossil fuel transportation from outside the community has a far greater negative impact on all the related elements, systems and economic justifications.
I became involved with the Cornerstones group when we lived in Santa Fe, NM. They have long been forward in preserving the original adobe structures of New Mexico and teaching the community how to take care of their legacy. At the end of the day, we (as an old zen teacher of ours used to call us) bumpkins aren't even considering the herons whose lives revolve around our self-important choices.
Please get involved with your local historic preservation groups, architectural review boards and elders to rebuild your unique community.
