So blessed to live 
a few minutes 
from baylands
from parks and hills
from Half Moon Bay, the Pacific....
So blessed
                within the concrete cocoon
                of our industrialized environment to have 
redwood trees soaring above our house
hummingbirds entering the world perched precariously on the thin branches of our Japanese Maple
to lie in the soothing waters of our plastic spa
monitoring the daily and monthly sojourns of the moon
tracking the annual rotation of the constellations
spying the occasional shooting star.

So blessed that Deb’s green thumb finds opportunities to nourish new life in small and surprising ways within and around our fragile walls.

So blessed with pets and their friends,
from time to time their prey,
with squirrels (squay-wills), and slugs, and mourning doves.

Why do all these make such an impact on our suburban life?
Why is not the work of human hands—the built environment—sufficient to sustain us?
No matter.
It just isn’t.
As inspiring as cathedrals, and bridges, skyscrapers, and stadia may be--
all the technology and ingenuity in the world cannot replicate the power of a single seed reaching through dark soil for sunlight and a chance to grow, sustain, and generate its species.

For these reasons and more, we yearn for the beauty, dignity, majesty, sanctity of nature. It feeds our soul whether we believe in one or not.
​

• May your senses never fail to be delighted by all the sights, sounds, aromas, tastes, and textures of the natural environment.
• May you live in an age that reclaims the beauty and bounty of the earth; may you share that bounty each day with people you love; and may love, care, and reverence of the planet grow in every succeeding generation.​

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