Big Bear Bald Eaglets Fishy Diet:
Continuing Up Date
Mama Jackie brings in a live fish -
gives new meaning to sushi's sashimi. Cookie
whines, then feeding begins also with Simba.
Papa Shadow arrives with another fish.
Eaglets are rapidly growing in size -- dark feathers appear to be emerging
from fluffy fuzz. Weather conditions have been trending cooler
than normal with periodic wind and unusual rain for May. Quick real-time glances of the nest I’ve
taken during stormy times reveal parental efforts to shelter eaglets but they’re
much larger now and generally are exposed.
***
A question that persists for me:
Is there something fishy continuing in the White House to undermine our democracy with the effort to centralize power there by weakening the other government branches coupled with neutralizing journalists (Fourth Estate) who report facts and truth?
***
What If ..... If Only ..... Revisited .....
My recent May 5th post and
comments querying whether or not a spouse affects what one thinks of as success
reminded me of this. This is a refresh with some editing of a July 2007 post.
Occasionally through the years, in moments of contemplation, I've
thought about how an individual’s life might be different from the one they
have, based on circumstantial changes in their activities, events, residences,
other variables, earlier in their life.
What if, at various times, anywhere along the way, the twists
and turns of choices and changes affecting them were made in directions other
than the ones they did experience, thus leading to different outcomes or
destinations?
I don't think about this for myself, generally, from a sense of regret. I think about it more from a standpoint of curiosity. I wonder how others view that question?
I've thought, wouldn't life be interesting if we could just put on hold whatever our existence was at a given time. Then, we could go off on an alternate route, full well knowing we could come back to the place we were before if we chose, then resume life where we left off. I guess that would require a quite different life dimension for each of us since we would be affecting so many other lives. Perhaps that could be possible ..... in science fiction.
As for myself, I experienced events at four or five years of age I would like to have avoided on both a personal and family level. An accident that comes to mind I only recall based on the details my mother described to me. I was perched behind the rider's seat reveling in the moment when my foot became entangled with the spokes of a moving bicycle wheel. The wheel spokes penetrated my ankle, though thankfully left me with only a large scar present yet today. What if... I hadn’t tried to find a foot rest for my tired dangling little legs, which resulted in me instead catching my foot in those bicycle spokes?
What if, some other changes, experiences, relocations, in my life hadn't occurred? For example:
What if... my birth family had remained intact? My experience of having my birth father remaining in our home could have offered me a different perspective on relationships.
I don't think about this for myself, generally, from a sense of regret. I think about it more from a standpoint of curiosity. I wonder how others view that question?
I've thought, wouldn't life be interesting if we could just put on hold whatever our existence was at a given time. Then, we could go off on an alternate route, full well knowing we could come back to the place we were before if we chose, then resume life where we left off. I guess that would require a quite different life dimension for each of us since we would be affecting so many other lives. Perhaps that could be possible ..... in science fiction.
As for myself, I experienced events at four or five years of age I would like to have avoided on both a personal and family level. An accident that comes to mind I only recall based on the details my mother described to me. I was perched behind the rider's seat reveling in the moment when my foot became entangled with the spokes of a moving bicycle wheel. The wheel spokes penetrated my ankle, though thankfully left me with only a large scar present yet today. What if... I hadn’t tried to find a foot rest for my tired dangling little legs, which resulted in me instead catching my foot in those bicycle spokes?
What if, some other changes, experiences, relocations, in my life hadn't occurred? For example:
What if... my birth family had remained intact? My experience of having my birth father remaining in our home could have offered me a different perspective on relationships.
What if... I had grown up and stayed in my birth city, or even the same state? My
circle of friends might have continued to be more centered on those there. I did retain one life long friend until she died a couple years ago, even though we had both left. But all the other friends I’ve made in subsequent relocations around the country I would never have known.
What if... my mother had not had some of the medical/sensory problems
she developed? My life would have been affected differently
if she had been able to return to her
teaching profession, or even expanded differently on her other skills and artistic talents.
What if... I had been able to continue my music, dancing
classes, develop other potential career interests and attend the private
university to which I aspired? My life career choices might have been quite
different.
What if... I had never lived for a few years in the country exposed to nature as a major companion? My appreciation and understanding of the environment and nature might
stem from quite a different perspective as a primarily city girl.
What if... I hadn't had to give away my dog when we moved?
My memory would be relieved of that emotional loss that I feel yet today.
What if... I had been allowed to accept the offer to ride a horse in Tucson, Arizona's annual western parade in that southwestern state to which we had just moved across country? I would have treasured memories -- assuming there were no incidents with which this inexperienced rider might have had to cope – which is why my mother didn’t give me permission. She apologized for this in later life – but I reassured her she probably made the wise decision.
What if... I had been allowed to accept the offer to ride a horse in Tucson, Arizona's annual western parade in that southwestern state to which we had just moved across country? I would have treasured memories -- assuming there were no incidents with which this inexperienced rider might have had to cope – which is why my mother didn’t give me permission. She apologized for this in later life – but I reassured her she probably made the wise decision.
What if... a generous family member hadn’t offered to loan me
the money to attend college in a day when there were no community colleges, scholarships
were limited, student loans were unavailable? I was so determined I would have explored
other means. I recall that included the possibility of enlisting in a branch of the
armed forces, despite the negative attitude of some in that time toward women in the military.
What if... I hadn't made what later seemed like foolish mistakes on
occasion? What if... I hadn't had those
instances in speaking when I "put my foot in my mouth"? What if... I hadn’t met some of the people
I’ve met, or I had met some others I didn’t meet? What if... so many more "what ifs"
that I could mention.
There is one interesting observation I've made over the years whenever I’ve heard most people engage in "What if...?" speculation as I've mentioned here previously. Invariably, whatever the past event or previous experience about which they are speculating, their assumption is that the result would have turned out better for them, "If only ...?"
How would my life have been different “if only…”? Would my life have been “better” – whatever that means? I wonder, do others ever consider the possibility the consequences just might have been much less desirable when they envision their “What if…” and "If only..."scenario?
There is one interesting observation I've made over the years whenever I’ve heard most people engage in "What if...?" speculation as I've mentioned here previously. Invariably, whatever the past event or previous experience about which they are speculating, their assumption is that the result would have turned out better for them, "If only ...?"
How would my life have been different “if only…”? Would my life have been “better” – whatever that means? I wonder, do others ever consider the possibility the consequences just might have been much less desirable when they envision their “What if…” and "If only..."scenario?
