Notes
Lost cats: The images of missing cat signs in this post were inspired by actual signs seen in my neighborhood. If you live in Astoria, Queens and have seen any of these animals, please DM me and I’ll share contact info for the folks who are looking for them.
A 2018 study by a group of Australian researchers found that at least 15% of cat owners lose their pet in a 5 year period. Their findings also suggest that putting up signs and conducting a search of the immediate area in the first week after a cat goes missing can increase the chance of recovery.
Chiweenie & Dorkie: These were new terms to me, but a web search revealed dozens of enthusiastic pages devoted to both breeds. The Chiweenie is a Chihuahua-Dachshund mix; the Dorkie is Dachshund-Yorkshire Terrier. Both are said to be good dogs for apartments, loyal, and fun. Chiweenies are, in addition, “spunky” and “energetic,” while Dorkies are “hirsute” and “affectionate.”
Some people worry there are deep problems they are not being told about: This is a true story, but I heard it confidentially, so I cannot tell it in detail. Suffice it to say that it was a heart wrenching example of the anxiety we must all be feeling as we experience the impact of climate change, and that I learned something from it about the waters that once ran through the place I now live.
Of course, the knowledge of deep problems in our environment is not being withheld. The clear evidence is in the air all around us. Warmer oceans experience more evaporation; warmer air holds more water. More water in the clouds means more intense rainfall. In Derna, Libya, 16 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. Extreme rainfall has caused deadly flooding around the world this summer, including in the U.S., Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil, India, Greece and Turkey. And there have been many more such events in recent years.
But I think the feeling behind the fear of unknown danger, that things are out of control and that the people who know this are not doing enough, speaks a volume of emotional truth.
Lenapehoking: The name for the historic Lenape homeland, which includes New York City and surrounding areas from Connecticut to Pennsylvania. It is increasingly common for area institutions and gatherings to include an acknowledgement that this land was taken from the Lenape by violence, and that this story of cultural and physical genocide has been erased. Civic spaces such as the Newtown Creek Nature Walk, not far from where I live and one of my favorite places, have also begun to reincorporate this history. Recognition seems good. But I also often think about what actions, what changes to the way we live, could happen along with it, and what connection that could have to a more sustainable future.
Thank you for being here with me!