Bird Droppings March 17, 2025
All in a name

Today I went on my daily sunrise chase but had some time constraints. I wanted to ride with my son while he took my grandkids to school. So, I missed my usual deer sightings. However, when I went to Publix to pick up a few things for supper a bald eagle was sitting beside the lake and later on my way home a red-tailed hawk so a good day. Birds have always been a part of my life perhaps since it is my name. On February 3, 2003, I officially started titling my daily email and blogging Bird Droppings. I went back to my files and pulled up a few old thoughts and ideas. As I was reading the local paper today, a street poll was included asking locals about gas prices. In a morning of memories, I recalled an email from my mother about starting a gas war. It was a forward from my uncle to my mother. A simple concept is that we, as consumers, stop buying gas from the two biggest gas companies and only buy from smaller ones, which will drive prices down. The idea was to email 30 people with this idea, which gets mailed to 30 more, sort of pyramid gas war tactics.

It was in 2001 that I started using the name Bird Droppings as a joke and put out several issues of newsletters for my students under that name. I am sitting here this morning with my tea mug in hand; actually, it is sitting on the desk at school beside me, typing an email out. I thought at the time “Bird Droppings” was a good title and subject. Looking back to that day in 2003, much was occurring around the nation as NASA tried to pick up pieces of a space shuttle and sort out the disaster that happened over east Texas. These explorers chose their profession and knew the risks. One crew member, being remembered by a cousin, said she would prefer to die in space doing what she loved. Space was a passion for each member of the crew; it was about searching and inquiry.

I can remember the Challenger accident before some of you were even born. It was a shock, just as this tragedy was. But as a brother of a Challenger crew member said, the morning “after their work continues.” Often, events in our lives make no sense at that point of happening and later clarify as we go further into the journey. There is really no solace to a family when a loved one is lost, even when you know the risks they were involved in. It is the thoughts and assurances of friends and family that can make the pain bearable.

Several years ago, my brother died during the night in his sleep. When I received the call at work, I was in shock and hurried to my parent’s home. Within moments, calls, emails, and faxes began to arrive from around the world from my parents’ friends and family. That support made that moment so much easier to bear. Back in 2007, with the death of my father-in-law and my father, the support of friends and family eased the pain and passing. I recall that day in February 2003; I was running a bit late that morning as I listened to the news and watched a nation mourn seven heroes.

Today, I found a quote that, for some, may not apply and for others, who knows, as I do each day. Many years ago, I read a series of books written by an anthropologist about his studies of herbal medicine among the Yaqui Indians of Mexico. Being a hobbyist, botanist and student of medicinal plants and herbs, I have always been fascinated by his writings. He eventually found his way to a medicine man who used the Anglo name of Don Juan. After a few trips and many years, Castaneda became an apprentice to Don Juan in his efforts to become a Yaqui Medicine man. Carlos Castaneda wrote about the trials and tribulations of his adventure and studies, and his books are still used in many classes as case studies today, even though his research has been shown to be fiction in many instances.

“We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same.”
Carlos Castaneda

One of the simple truths he found in his studies under Don Juan was how much we are directly involved in our situation. That sounds simple, but so often, we blame the world around us for our plight. A student of life can only blame themselves for all the choices made. They are ours and no one else to make. So, in effect, we make ourselves happy or sad, and only we can redirect the pathway. Those heroic astronauts who gave their lives could have chosen another path, a simpler path, and less risky path, but they wanted and chose the direction they were on and where they were to be. We now can choose how to continue our journey ending in a crash or building upon that and going beyond the stars. Remember the families of those brave men and women who died and keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your hearts and always seek peace namaste.

My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,

Mitakuye Oyasin

(We are all related)

docbird