An Orca named Lolita

It's another example of the myth of the eternal return.  Another form of the circle of life.  Yes, another example of what comes around goes around.  As such, it fits neatly into the mythology of the tribe trying valiantly return an orca to it's original home...it's indigenous waters.
Have you heard about an orca named Lolita?  She was taken from Washington to Florida over 50 years ago.  In a round-up of orcas in 1970, Lolita ended up at the Miami Seaquarium, where she has performed for decades to the delight of children of all ages on the other side of the country. 
The Lummi tribe of the Pacific Northwest see the orca as a spiritual entity.  The name translates to "people who live under the water." They want this "person" back. 
This is a heartfelt belief that seems almost impossible, but the move is gaining strength and financial support.  Of course to transport this elderly animal back across the country would be very risky.  Nevertheless, the Lummi elders agree that it can be done and is definitely worth any risk.
And what a powerful story it would be.  In this current era of climate deniers and the trashing of much tradition, what a welcome relief.
Above all the move would give much needed credibility to the power of Indian mythology.  Now far from where I live, on the Columbia River, there is a spot called Sililo Falls.  It was a Native American fishing spot where for generations, salmon were taken from the river for the needs of the people living there.  When the Columbia was dammed for hydroelectric power back in the 1930s, the falls was lost.  According to engineers and river-keepers, the spot is still there.  So underneath the water the rock formations that formed the falls lie in tact on the bottom of the river.  Perhaps I should say the lake that used to be the river. 
If all goes according to the plans of some, the Columbia's may lose many of it's dams.  As we look at other sustainable forms of energy, this likelihood becomes ever more possible.  Probably not in my lifetime, but to see Lolita swimming by the falls where the relatives of the original inhabitants are again fishing for salmon would be more entertaining than watching a trained whale show in Florida.

Small Town World

It's a small Northern California town.  Charming, still in many ays, but like many towns this size, it has changed and is changing rapidly in this increasingly technological society.  Some would place it square in the heart of wine country.  Easy to do since one passes miles of grape vines on the path that leads here.  But no, it's really not in Napa county.  Not in Mendocino county either.  That leaves Sonoma county and that would be accurate.

I used to come here with regularity 30 years ago.  The glimpse of what it was then with its little downtown area of banks, curio shops and restaurants is still possible.  The tavern I played music in with some friends is long gone.  The little market has been replaces with a Whole Foods, and a couple of coffeehouses and a decent bookstore struggle along.
I could live here.  It's far enough away from deep urban problems, but it lack the diversity I'd crave.  It's close enough to major amenities and a hospital that true old age is possible here and definitely preferable than overcrowded suburbs.
People really do know each other by name and I'm told the parking restrictions are rarely enforced.  Today, we'll find out if that is true because I plan to be here more than an hour.
I have questions:  Is there a live music scene?  How is walkability?  A good mechanic?  And the most important question of all.  Can I get a decent cup of coffee and a proper bagel here?  Those things matter to me.
I've made my way to a coffee house where internet service works and the Americano I'm drinking passes muster.  I always order an Americano if the house coffee's strength is in doubt.  So far, so good. I like the size of this place.  Small tables and a large welcoming common table in the center. 
The barista noticed and complimented my tattoo.  That's a start.
But could I survive here?  Probably.  A local newspaper would be telling, but so far nothing of the sort has appeared.  I'll look again on my way back t the car.
In this currently reality we have to consider every quality of the weather.  Fire smoke might become a factor.  Drought and flooding not far behind.
It's not outside the realm of possibility that I know or know of someone who lives here.  Someone like me who has put in their time and now works on the identity crisis that comes with retirement.  In a few minutes, I'll walk some more and try to answer a few of the most crucial questions.  I've go time.  Time today and hopefully time to make any long term decisions.  And then there is the entire issue of politics.  How will these folks vote? Will they vote?  They'd better if they want the pleasure of my company.  It is a small Northern California town, but is it like others of it's ilk?  Or is ther something more?

Your's Mine, and Our Story

I hear it all the time.  Depends on the holiday or the anniversary.  Well meaning, intelligent people say that our kids don't know history.  They tell their interviewers that students today don't know anything about the Civil War, World War II, or even the Holocaust.
That's hard to believe.  I say this not because as a former history teacher, I've taught these topics, or because I know firsthand that every one of them featured prominently in the curriculum that my department developed and used.  I say this because I'm dumbfounded how any student with a U.S. or World History course could avoid such huge content areas.
So, maybe the subjects came up in some classrooms but there was no retention of knowledge.  That's still hard to believe, given this culture's fascination with war, action films, and historical dramas.
In my Forty plus years in and out of classrooms I've seen many lessons focused on the history of the Holocaust.  The graphic novel Maus, by Art Spigelman, is extremely popular and quite engaging for many students disenchanted with reading textbooks.  Yet, the narrative persists, "Kids no nothing of major historical themes and events."
Not true.  But then I get that it's easy to generalize about a generation when one has witnessed or heard an adolescent who is unclear about something most people are familiar with.  Because there are people who know very little about their own history.  So what's behind that?
My guess is that they've been betrayed about the truth by a narrative designed to blurr and downplay certain realities and conditions.
One effect of that might be an inability to understand or carve out an opinion on some crucial subjects.  Take reparations, for example.  The subject of compensating African-Americans for the evils of slavery has long been discussed.  Nothing has ever come to fruition.  Some suggest that until a formalized form of reconciliation takes place, this country will never progress in the area of racial and social justice.  The U.S. is sadly deficient.  Just look at the example that Bishop Tutu's  reconciliation work post apartheid provides  Now a case can be made about distributing money to the descendants of those held in bondage.  But reparations needn't be monetary.  In fact, admission and tuition for higher education would go a long way to help.  Since ex-slaves never had a chance at land ownership, it figures that any meaningful part of a solution should include assistance in property ownership.
So, who would argue against this? I submit that only those who know very little about "the peculiar institution" would try.

There are various ways that the evils and cruelty of American slavery has been downplayed.  One history text even goes so far as to label plantation slaves as "workers."  Only a trip to a museum might convince some that the term "worker" is dubious, at best.
The artifacts and scarce photos from the enslavement of African Americans will tell a story that can be seen today.  Look at the chains and bizarre devices used to shackle the "workers."  See the pictures of people with their limbs hacked off so that they can't run.  If that's too much maybe just listen to the music produced from these realities.  It's no accident that the blues  was planted in this rich earth.