Autumn thoughts

When I was in Grade 8 back in 1969 our English class of students each had to memorize the same poem and then recite it.  I'm certain many of us still remember the poem and I think the English teacher provided this assignment as an exercise in longevity..  He was an unusual teacher, very artistic and  his big earthenware pottery brown bowl is on top of my kitchen cupboard shelves as I write this.  I bought the bowl from my sister's neighbor at garage sale many years ago.  My sister's neighbour  was a former classmate and she knows the poem, too.

The verses start with "The world is too much with us, late and soon,
                                    Getting and spending we lay waste our powers,
                                    Little we see in nature that is ours...."

and it goes on from there, by William Wordsworth.  Check it if you like.  I think English Literature was important in my high school era because we were taught, as Canadians and British subjects, to respect Canada's heritage.  Many of my classmates were First Nations and now I'm friends with people of the Okanagan Indian Band as well.

I'm so glad to know the First Nations will be more and more instrumental in protecting our environment - I just know they will be our guides for the future in B.C. and all of North America.  Their traditions and culture are more in tune with nature than the basic white person. If not for them, we'd be doomed, honestly I think so.

I just can't care about a lot of media right now.  I rarely watch tv except for Dancing with the Stars and the news, maybe some PBS.  It's not that I can't handle the flashing ads, the class conciousness, the hyperactivity and of course your old standby "rampant consumerism".  I don't want to compete - it's foolish and silly to try, basically stressful and unhealthy and I just harvested my garden with a fresh breeze and birds singing all around me.  My learning experience is from the garden and nature.  I'm appalled at the lack of concern about people in poverty and I try to give what I can.  Animal rights, a big deal with me.  Animals are so pure - look at the wild animal's healthy clear eyes,  instinctive, and innocent.

Yes, the world is too much with me.  I have to remember to stay true to my essence.  I can't get involved in too much media.  Happy Thanksgiving.  You can always direct message me and I'll see the notification in my emails, thanks.  Please feel free.  Those words say it all.