Denial

Denial is actually a very important coping mechanism of the human psyche.  We experience it often.  Elizabeth Kubler Ross http://www.ekrfoundation.org/ identified it as one of the stages of grief, in her early works on death and dying.  Denial saves us a lot of pain and suffering, when we are not able to withstand the emotional impact of the early onslaught of pain and suffering.

I am very much aware of the enormous, catastrophic impact of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  It makes me physically ill to think about it, and the impact it is having on the wildlife and environment.  So much so, I just can not think about it much.

So, when my friends tell me that it makes them sick to think about it, then proceed to talk about, I tell them to stop...

Sorry. I am in major denial.

Passion or Blasé

I have noticed that in the last several years, I do not have emotional passion for many things that I have had emotional passion  for in the past...  No passion for bird watching, (http://www.leas.bizland.com/no): no passion for NASCAR ( http://www.nascar.com/ ):, no passion for Lady Raider Basketball  (http://www.texastech.com/sports/w-baskbl/text-w-baskbl-body.html.)

Dissecting this, am not sure about the birdwatching... I do know that some of the local birdwatching types have made me less interested in bird watching....

I absolutely know that I have a hole in my heart about NASCAR since Dale Earnhardt has died.. I try to be interested, but it is a struggle.  I want to be passionate about Dale Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Joey Lagono, but it is not the same.

The Texas Tech University Lady Raider basketball team has done so poorly, and performed not as a team for so long, that it is difficult to have passion for them.  I try to be, and want to be, a team player... I hope that happens...

I think it is hormonal.  I just do not have the emotional spikes I used to have.  Maybe, that is better than not.

Great Backyard Bird Count

I enjoy birdwatching although I do less of it than I used to... When I walked Mack every day, a friend and I began watching birds every day...Life changes...And I do not walk every day, Mack has been dead for 12 years...(it seems like yesterday), and I do not do much birdwatching.

So, an acquaintance called last week and asked me to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count.  A minimum of 15 minutes, anywhere, as many times a day as you want:  I did several times in my back yard.... It was neat:  I saw almost nothing, and I saw lots!  Hmmm.  

Llano Estacado Audubon Society this year is trying to have Lubbock be the most reported place in Texas...After I submitted my final report tonight, I checked the status, and Lubbock was on top. Great! That could change, reports are accepted until March 15... 

Get out and look at what is in your yard!