This is an image of Kiko from November 2007, a year before his death in December 2008. He was a sickly cat in his last year after being with us for 16+ years.
During Kiko’s time with us, I never felt like I owned him. Rather, I felt privileged that he allowed us to share his space. Recently, on Instagram, I learned of the word Kahu, or a Kahu. The word can be traced to Hawaiian origins, meaning “honored guardian.” I’m currently not a Kahu. No animals live with us, but maybe that will change.
Love Birds (Two Ravens On An Olive Tree Limb) — Image by kenne
Like a bird on the wire Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free Like a worm on a hook Like a knight from some old fashioned book I have saved all my ribbons for thee
Matt’s Longhorn Saloon has been a part of Prescott’s famous “Whiskey Row” since the early 1960’s and is still going strong today as one of Prescott’s last true Honky Tonks. Occupying the historic D. Levy Building, built in 1901 as a mercantile, then becoming a saloon just at the end of prohibition in 1934, Matt’s Saloon has become an internationally recognized and highly acclaimed destination place for country music. — Source: mattssaloon.com
Much has happened since going to Memphis to attend the International Blues Challenge. For starters, the NY Times Travel section was two weeks late in providing a good article, “Roll Over, Elvis. Meet Indie Memphis.” We now know we missed a lot.
While in Memphis, the US Supreme Court decision involving the Fair Elections Now Act works against the continued corporate takeover of our government. Are corporations evil? No! Neither are the people who work within their controlling environments. However, with the Supreme Court’s recent decision, it is becoming even more convincing that we need to redesign a poorly designed invention of our culture (corporations). I know this will not be an easy task since most of us are products of the corporate mentality and lifestyle. Still, if we value the mystery and categories of human enterprise, we must find ways to level the playing field. It is important to remember that there is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequals.
(Is This A Good Year To Be Born — Newsweek, 1967)
The great US historian and activist Howard Zinn, who helped change many Americans’ conscience, passed away this week at age 87. I first learned about Howard Zinn in the late sixties while still in the Army. Frustrated by our continued involvement in Vietnam, I began keeping a scrapbook of articles, opt-ad columns, political cartoons, and photos. During this time, I first read the Zinn quote, “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism,” which has since been carved into my very being. Although many have read his book, The People’s History of the United States, which gives voice to Native Americans, Blacks, women, immigrants, poor laborers, and others not covered in mainstream history, still many only got to know of him through the recent History Channel, The People Speak. A believer in democracy by the people, and in light of the above-mentioned US Supreme Court decision, I share this Zinn quote: “If those in charge of our society – politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television – can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.”
Pogo — 1967
This past week witnessed two examples of a great leader in action: President Barak Obama’s State of the Union speech and, two days later, his appearance before and discussion with the Republican Caucus. I urge you to make your own judgment by viewing the videos on YouTube.
Lastly, this past week also saw the death of J.D. Salinger. Although I was not a “reader” as a child and young adult, one of the first novels I read (all-be-it because I had to in senior English) in the late ’50s was Catcher In The Rye, and like so many young people of the time, it had a lasting impression. So many of us share a kinship with Holden and our phony world.
“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it if you want to know the truth.” The opening line from Catcher in The Rye.
I will end this posting by sharing an email from Brother Tom:
The cat and I were laughing ( As in J.D. Salinger’s story. “The Laughing Man” ) about persons who repeatedly speak of “coming out” with their BOOK explaining “IT” all….. And we thought of Theroux’s quote :
“A person becomes a writer because they are DEFICIENT. They have problems; They are “crazy”; They have unhappy families… They are “eccentric” and… Not because they read a LOT of books; but on the contrary… Maybe they haven’t read enough books!!!!!!!! There is a strong irrationality about THE WRITING LIFE…
Often, a writer writes to maintain a need to be HUGGED and told that she is loved.”
t.
Thanks, Tom. We may live far apart but remain on the same wave link.
Low Clouds In The Santa Catalina Mountains Panorama — Image by kenne
And honoured among foxes and pheasants by the gay house Under the new made clouds and happy as the heart was long, In the sun born over and over, I ran my heedless ways, My wishes raced through the house high hay And nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, that time allows In all his tuneful turning so few and such morning songs Before the children green and golden Follow him out of grace,
Nothing I cared, in the lamb white days, that time would take me Up to the swallow thronged loft by the shadow of my hand, In the moon that is always rising, Nor that riding to sleep I should hear him fly with the high fields And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless land. Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means, Time held me green and dying Though I sang in my chains like the sea.
Bluebill Dayflower In The Santa Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
The flowers of all dayflowers emerge from a folded leaf-like structure called a bract. In birdbill dayflower, the bract has a long tapered tip. The flowers of all dayflowers are blue, often a lovely pastel. Birdbill dayflower has three petals, but several of the very common species have only two. The flowers are open in the morning, but wither by mid-day. Actually, the petals absorb moisture from the atmosphere and turn to mush, a phenomenon called deliquescence. Birdbill dayflower grows in rocky soils in woodland and forest openings. While many of the dayflowers grow in wet soils, birdbill dayflower grows on relatively dry well drained slopes. Plants thrive with the onset of summer rains. — Source: U. S. Forest Service
Male Pyrrhuloxia In Mesquite Tree — Image by kenne
How did the Pyrrhuloxia end up with such a scary looking name? And what does Pyrrhuloxia mean? It’s all Greek to me. No, really, it is Greek. The Pyrrhuloxia’s name comes from two Greek words: The first one means “flame,” which has to do with the male’s red breast; the second means “crooked,” referring to its large beak. Found in the desert southwest, Pyrrhuloxias typically like drier habitats than cardinals do. Because of its preference for dry habitat some folks, who can’t figure out how to say Pyrrhuloxia, simply refer to it as the “desert cardinal.”
