Bird Droppings November 14, 2025
Searching for a flower, the butterfly pea (Clitoria marina), in the winter or is it gone now forever
Interestingly, I had two thoughts earlier in the morning, when I started the day, that made me think of the butterfly pea. One I heard on the radio was that I was heading out to photograph the countryside later than normal, as recalled by a satellite radio announcer from an old Bush quote, and the other thought was from Harry Potter. Unique what pops up before dawn as I ponder and wander and take a trip to one of my favorite stores, my corner BP station. Kroger is still my favorite, as I am limited by what my local BP convenience store offers. Publix has become a close third, as it is more convenient, and a great sushi restaurant is nearby. You never know when you might need some sushi. It has been rather hectic this week between finalizing my Walton County Substitute onboarding, doing laundry, and catching up on emails; amazingly, it has been relaxing. Tonight, my oldest grandson wants to spend the night watching a movie with his dad. What a glorious weekend it is still ahead!
“It is not about the goods we accumulate but about the good we do.” George W. Bush
“It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices.” Professor Dumbledore to Harry in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” by J.K. Rowling
I wish it were possible to believe the first. Still, with attempts to drill for oil in wilderness Alaska, offshore in Florida, and other parts of the country, friends in high places reaping huge profits, and a war costing trillions of dollars, it was viewed as bogus from many people’s standpoint while he was in office. It makes it hard to grasp philosophically. Although, as some people have indicated in writing and articles, he may have been simply a puppet of others. Still, war efforts and accumulation seemed more important at the time than doing any good. Of course, the philosophy of the end justifies the means that could be applied.
That was the approach when the last passenger pigeon died in the Cincinnati Zoo, and some people thought it was only a pigeon. Sadly, once billions of birds flew over the forests of the East Coast, and yes, it was only a pigeon, except we can never replicate that one at this time; it is gone. The Alaska wilderness, even though it is at a great expanse, is gone when it is gone and can never be replicated. However, if the end justifies the means, many people see no problem. However, as I sat this morning, perhaps a better, brighter thought from J.K. Rowling through Dumbledore’s character: “It is our choice that shows who we are.” I wonder how soon the Harry Potter books will be considered classics, and whether teachers will analyze the plots and develop theories as to why Rowling characterized Harry as a boy or teenager, and why an owl is his companion rather than a weasel.
I recall eleventh or twelfth-grade English, my teacher, Ms. Stern, and the Melville novel, Moby Dick. According to her lessons and teachings, the ship represented the world, and Ishmael, the wanderer, got stuck on that ship. What was Melville telling us besides a great story and history of New England’s whaling industry? I enjoyed the story, but not the analysis. When I wrote my opinion based on my love of history, it was wrong, according to Ms. Stern. Many years ago, the credo was that our choices, not our abilities, defined us. However, had I been in a different teacher’s class, my idea of a historical novel on the short-lived whaling industry would have been applauded.
” Ability is of little account without opportunity.” Napoleon Bonaparte
“The first requisite for success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.” Thomas A. Edison
Is it about being at the right place at the right time, or is it our choice? It is also about applying and choosing when an opportunity presents itself. Then, the plot thickens in some of my more recent readings, with several differing views, and yet again, somewhat in line with the following quote.
“All things are made of energy. Thoughts and feelings, for example, are nothing more than energy. Through the choices we make, our thoughts and feelings, and even our actions, take on a distinctive nature according to the direction in which they are moved.” Dr. Michael Garrett, Walking on the Wind
“It is a fine thing to have the ability, but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test.” Elbert Hubbard
Ability is an added aspect of today’s search, and recognizing it in others is almost an intuitive aspect of humanity.
“The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.” Booker T. Washington
As I was feeling a bit energetic this morning, I chased the sunrise before breakfast, went to Kroger, and then prepared some brunch. However, I sat pondering on my back porch for some time, sipping green tea. I listened intently to the sounds of nature and intermingled them with the occasional sounds of a car or truck in the distance. I have started walking an extra 10,000 steps daily when I have time at Kroger or Publix, aiming to reach 10,000 steps a day. It’s amazing how much better I feel as I get through each day. I am reading and writing today for my dissertation.
I enjoy my time reading, answering emails, and working on photography, often downloading many photos to Facebook and tending to my gardens. One of my emails from a now-senior in high school was about realizing that school was nearing its end, graduation was only a year away, and they would have to make their way in life. In that same email, concern for a friend stationed in the Middle East was almost heart-rending. Watching the news does not do justice to friends and families with loved ones overseas still in harm’s way, as I think about the choices we make. As I went home, I recalled seeing a flag. Our town had a memorial to a recently fallen local fellow killed in a suicide bombing attack in Afghanistan several years ago. In other emails suggesting a book to read, out of 70 or so sent yesterday and this morning, perhaps those three caught my attention.
I started with a Bush quote, which may apply to a job search I am about to begin. Many of the things we do with our lives are our choice, and how the world perceives that choice depends on our direction and choices. It is not the ability you will be known for or how great an actor, musician, or football player you are, but what you do with your talent that is seen. Aspects of family and friends are crucial, and they equally and consistently seek to learn more by reading, writing, thinking, and reflecting.
“If there were no writers, there would be no readers,” unknown source.
“Choose wisely” has been said, and in the end, some do, and some do not. Today, take stock of where you are, look ahead, and choose the pathway that will direct you where you need to be.
“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.” Basho
In today’s hectic world, we all seek quick solutions: five-minute abs, six minutes to wisdom, and a one-minute egg. Wisdom is not traded on the stock exchange; it is not a commodity that can be brokered. It is there, and it is a journey. The journey is not easy, and it’s not easy to find wisdom. It is only those who travel that road who genuinely become wise.
“True wisdom lies in gathering the precious things out of each day as it goes by.” E. S. Bouton
I was bored with no American Idol, Netflix was acting up, and we had no other shows to watch, so I put on a video of Star Trek, of all things: “Star Trek: Insurrection.” The plot revolves around a planet where all is at peace. The few 600 residents have forsaken technology for art or literature, for the aesthetics in life, and for all that they can make of themselves. Interestingly, a weaver studies for 40 years to become an apprentice and another 40 to become a master weaver of rugs and tapestries. These people live on a planet whose innate radiation prolongs life and rejuvenates them, giving them time to fulfill their inner potential. It sounds so easy when time allows.
Daniel Day-Lewis, the actor, went and became a cobbler. He took a five-year hiatus from movies to study cobbling (shoemaking) in Europe under his master. As the Star Trek movie progressed, a comment was made about a perfect moment, a special moment that stands out above all else. Captain Pickard mentioned seeing Earth from space for the first time; many astronauts recall that moment. One morning, it was a sunrise over the Atlantic on Cumberland Island with the waves splashing about and the most brilliant reds and oranges I have ever seen. A shrimp boat slowly moved through this picture, yet the boat was insignificant in its awesomeness.
As Pickard spoke with this woman on the planet of perfect moments, she offered to learn how to make every moment perfect. The movie continued, and soon, he saw a hummingbird flit to a flower, or pollen blown from one.
“Wisdom is like electricity. There is no permanently wise man, but men capable of wisdom, who, being put into certain company or other favorable conditions, become wise for a short time, as glasses rubbed acquire electric power for a while.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am intrigued as I read various thoughts on wisdom; for some reason, I am always drawn to Emerson. He was controversial to some in his time, yet perhaps one of his lifetime’s greatest thinkers and poets. He was alluding to wisdom as a temporary entity in his statement. The following quote is an interesting statement from a President who is often misunderstood.
“Wisdom ofttimes consists of knowing what to do next.” Herbert Clark Hoover
“Wisdom begins at the end.” Daniel Webster
So often, we spend time simply doing, rather than seeking; we spend time worrying about which path to take or preparing for the journey and the destination. We forget to go; there we are, no better or worse, only we are still where we started. Somewhere among all things is the destination, but the destination is not necessarily the end, but a point B of line AB, and still, there are C, D, E, and much more. The procrastinating journey of my doctorate, wandering and taking pictures, led me as I went from flower to flower and occasionally to one, I had never seen before. I photographed an Atlantic pigeon wing, also known as a butterfly pea, Clitoria marina, a few years ago. It was growing along a dirt road near an old homestead. Sadly, after some construction, it is gone, and I have found it nowhere else in the area. However, I did find a source for seeds today. Please keep all those in harm’s way on your mind and in your thoughts, and always give thanks, Namaste.
My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,
Mitakuye Oyasin
(We are all related)
docbird
The daily meanderings of a teacher 