Earth Teach Me: December 2021

Oriole and Bluebirds visit our Backyard Feeder Every Winter

Darn it. I'm so sick of this COVID business, but it looks like we're going to have to keep dealing with it into 2022 now. We all hoped that 2021 would be better, but instead, it was another tough year. Just when we got our long hoped for vaccines and we thought things were looking up, along came Delta, and then Omicron, and here we are in December, masking up and hunkering down again. The 5th wave. It's hard to know if we are being too cautious or not careful enough. While I may feel comfortable with my own risk level, I really fear bringing sickness to others. So for now, we're playing it safe and keeping our distance. I yearn for the days where I felt totally at ease walking into a restaurant or buying concert tickets, or hopping on a plane to California or Argentina. But that doesn't seem smart yet, so we are learning to make do--getting takeout from our favorite restaurants instead of dining in, meeting with friends outside, and traveling longer distances by car. This year we spent Christmas tent camping in Florida and it was really nice, though we were always wary of crowds and potential exposure. I feel fortunate that we have been able to visit with our granddaughters several times this year, and we managed to hold some special celebrations with family and friends. But there is a lot of uncertainty each time we get together with young kids who can't be vaccinated yet or other vulnerable people. I really miss my family who live too far away to drive to for a visit. It can feel very discouraging. I swing back and forth between joy and despair almost daily. But I have to remind myself that just stepping outside can move the gauge to the positive side. It really helps to actively look for daily inspirations, like a firefly or a bird's egg or a full moon, to feel the warm sun and to breathe fresh air. Those things tell me that everything is not FUBAR, and I can feel hopeful that it will get better someday. Meanwhile, I continue enjoy the snug comfort of home with my husband and pets (we got another COVID puppy this year) and video calls with dear family. And I watch the birds and butterflies in my yard and in natural areas around town. I find that photographing and observing nature is my best therapy. It keeps me (relatively!) sane. I really welcome "assignments" like the June Challenge, the Christmas Bird Count and the Great Georgia Pollinator Census that make me get out and exploring, when sometimes I need a little prodding. My resolution for 2022 is to try look for those inspirations every day, and to write more.

These are some of my favorite photos from the year. I hope you they you find them soothing, too. Take care and here's to a Happy, Healthy New Year!