Thank you for showing us your river, Kathleen, and linking it to those that have recently crashed through so many lives. Winter is now a prequel to mud season here in Maine, it seems, akin perhaps to the fire season out west that has become a year-round fact of life. A recent Vox article (https://www.vox.com/culture/24001256/snow-winter-climate-change-solastalgia-warming) on the snow-less future in Scandinavia talks about that interesting neologism, solastalgia, coined to describe the sadness we feel about our changing home landscapes in this new climate-addled world. We here in the north need to prepare for the dark of winter without the bright dream of snow to gather and reflect what light remains.
This Vox article is a great find, Jason. It gives the data about the loss of winter everywhere on the planet and connects the story of Maine's loss of a way of life and an idea of ourselves to the same struggles people are having all over the world. OH, god, the river. We still have candles and we have to light them and find a new way forward!
The old stories continue. This is nothing to fear, just the affect of weather caused by El Nino. Winter as we knew it will return next year. We are blissfully ignorant of the reality that we have had El Nino's as a regular part of the earth's cycles but last year was the hottest ever and the trend is clear for those who are willing to admit it. And now the US is about to allow a huge expansion of the export of liquified natural gas. The scientists say it will push us beyond the 1.5 C warming that marks the threshold beyond which is an unlivable planet. The two largest financiers of the assault on our climate are Chase and Citibank. And here in Maine, beloved L.L.Bean refuses to use their economic clout to demand that Citibank stop. They say that Citibank is good for their customers and that is all that matters. Begin the New Year by writing to Steven Smith ( 15 Casco St, Freeport, 04033) and tell him that the "outside" matters more than short term profits and include your L.L. Bean/Citibank credit card.
I appreciate you sharing so honestly, Kathleen. I feel these changes and loss of reliably snowy winters too. Here in SW Colorado at 7,000 feet, our holiday season has been sunny and too warm for snow. The storms pass us by.
This line from your post will stay with me for some time, where you speak of the importance...
“... to acknowledge the crippling influence of holding on to old stories and to find new stories to guide people towards new solutions and a greater sense of choice and agency.”
And also, for me, to find and hold on to old stories of any sort that are strengthening, reassuring, illuminating in our current world. Or, I just had a realization, upon that discovery, a chronologically old story will then be a new story! Not all
Wheels need newly invented; some just need unburied.
Thanks for all this stimulation before I’ve even finished my first cup of coffee.
Oh! 7,000 feet and no snow. We aren't alone in Maine with this loss, nor are you with yours. Sigh. Maybe the loss of winter will be the tipping point for far more climate activism. And yes, to old stories becoming new stories!
Looking forward to taking the train to DC to demand that Biden stop the LNG expansion. Thankful for the Third Act Maine community and you for creating community in thought and ACTION!! ❤️
I feel it,Kathleen. The sadness, longing, confusion and thanks to your words,the truth of what is happening. Thank you for bringing us together in grief and recognition.
A perfect essay for the season and times, K. I'm trying to slowly catch up with the fact that we just did go through New Year's! I could hear fireworks outside from my sweat-soaked bed, but was unable to go outside and clang my pan! It was the warmest December on record here in Oregon.
Thank you for showing us your river, Kathleen, and linking it to those that have recently crashed through so many lives. Winter is now a prequel to mud season here in Maine, it seems, akin perhaps to the fire season out west that has become a year-round fact of life. A recent Vox article (https://www.vox.com/culture/24001256/snow-winter-climate-change-solastalgia-warming) on the snow-less future in Scandinavia talks about that interesting neologism, solastalgia, coined to describe the sadness we feel about our changing home landscapes in this new climate-addled world. We here in the north need to prepare for the dark of winter without the bright dream of snow to gather and reflect what light remains.
This Vox article is a great find, Jason. It gives the data about the loss of winter everywhere on the planet and connects the story of Maine's loss of a way of life and an idea of ourselves to the same struggles people are having all over the world. OH, god, the river. We still have candles and we have to light them and find a new way forward!
The old stories continue. This is nothing to fear, just the affect of weather caused by El Nino. Winter as we knew it will return next year. We are blissfully ignorant of the reality that we have had El Nino's as a regular part of the earth's cycles but last year was the hottest ever and the trend is clear for those who are willing to admit it. And now the US is about to allow a huge expansion of the export of liquified natural gas. The scientists say it will push us beyond the 1.5 C warming that marks the threshold beyond which is an unlivable planet. The two largest financiers of the assault on our climate are Chase and Citibank. And here in Maine, beloved L.L.Bean refuses to use their economic clout to demand that Citibank stop. They say that Citibank is good for their customers and that is all that matters. Begin the New Year by writing to Steven Smith ( 15 Casco St, Freeport, 04033) and tell him that the "outside" matters more than short term profits and include your L.L. Bean/Citibank credit card.
Yes, yes, yes! Maybe the warm winters everywhere not just Maine will be a tipping point for more action!
I appreciate you sharing so honestly, Kathleen. I feel these changes and loss of reliably snowy winters too. Here in SW Colorado at 7,000 feet, our holiday season has been sunny and too warm for snow. The storms pass us by.
This line from your post will stay with me for some time, where you speak of the importance...
“... to acknowledge the crippling influence of holding on to old stories and to find new stories to guide people towards new solutions and a greater sense of choice and agency.”
And also, for me, to find and hold on to old stories of any sort that are strengthening, reassuring, illuminating in our current world. Or, I just had a realization, upon that discovery, a chronologically old story will then be a new story! Not all
Wheels need newly invented; some just need unburied.
Thanks for all this stimulation before I’ve even finished my first cup of coffee.
Oh! 7,000 feet and no snow. We aren't alone in Maine with this loss, nor are you with yours. Sigh. Maybe the loss of winter will be the tipping point for far more climate activism. And yes, to old stories becoming new stories!
Looking forward to taking the train to DC to demand that Biden stop the LNG expansion. Thankful for the Third Act Maine community and you for creating community in thought and ACTION!! ❤️
We are going to make good trouble in DC! Looking forward to doing it with you and taking that train together!
The snowed road was hard to see.
I feel it,Kathleen. The sadness, longing, confusion and thanks to your words,the truth of what is happening. Thank you for bringing us together in grief and recognition.
Thanks for being there beside the river, Leslie!
Yes.
Thank you for feeling it, the hard true thing.
Thank you for saying it out loud.
I reach for your hand, walk out into the day.
"...the river, the river flowing inside my body, just below my smile, my gratitude. I can hear it, like sad piano chords echoing in the dark sky."
Thanks, Helena. Your hand feels warm and soothing.
A perfect essay for the season and times, K. I'm trying to slowly catch up with the fact that we just did go through New Year's! I could hear fireworks outside from my sweat-soaked bed, but was unable to go outside and clang my pan! It was the warmest December on record here in Oregon.