Earth Day? What s to celebrate?
Here s what:
I join a few dozen others who have come together to Boggs State Forest to hike and fundraise. I am stunned by the splendor of this place. As we walk reverently along the paths, various shades of green moss cling like lush carpet around towering pines. Sparkles in the washouts are diamonds, and not metaphorically speaking. These are real Lake County diamonds scrubbed to brilliance by recent downpours. The creek playfully surges over rocks in gleeful waterfalls. Wildflowers are at various stages of explosion.
Eager Yuba College professors offer sturdy hands as our feet tentatively find the rocks needed to ford the stream. The rains hold off. We are bathed in crisp, fresh air and muted sunlight.
Today I am enfolded by the arms of my Mother. Her laws are relentless and absolute, and I will perish along with the other mammals if I ignore her warnings. I pray it s not too late. She satisfies me like no thing or nobody else.
I will celebrate Earth Day. I will celebrate my Mother until or unless I cannot. I will find the waterfall near Socrates Mine Road, meet up with the bobcat, hike the high trails for magnificent views, listen to the cries of the herons at Anderson Marsh, skinny dip in Kelsey Creek, spy on the river otters, discover the hot springs near Lake Pillsbury and experience the tonic of wildness as long as we both shall live.
Earth Mother is calling. I have only to respond.
Barbara Christwitz
Clearlake
