Tag: Langley WA

144. Which Tree Should It Be?

If you visit the Earth Sanctuary, and walk along the edges of the ponds, look up the hill to the other side. There is a cedar there. You might have to search for a moment or two. You will find it, the one that is perfect, the one that reminds you that I am present in the universe… with you, now, and forever. Just be still. And know…

I really should visit more often.  The location of the Earth Sanctuary is somewhere between Langley and Freeland, maybe 15 minutes from the Clinton Ferry Terminal.

Let Peace Prevail on Earth wooden poster at the Earth Sanctuary, Langley, WA.
At the Earth Sanctuary, Langley, WA.

I love a good ride on the ferry, although it’s a bit creepy these days with no Titanic moments on the upper deck, and the inner benches half barricaded by red caution tape.  

Maybe some other year or some other lifetime, I will make it an intention to venture on biweekly day trips.  The yearly pass for the Sanctuary is only $35.  The Ferry would be the biggest expense. There is a cafe nearby that creates incredible avocado toast.  Definitely a trifecta of amazingness.

As we wandered the woods of the Earth Sanctuary, I was immersed in the experience of woodland scents and sounds.  But my eyes would strategically drift away, searching.  Which tree should it be?  Where would I want my ashes to be dispersed?  It sounds morbid. It was not.

The obvious choice, a cedar tree, left a lot of options.  Certainly, the Earth Sanctuary houses far more deciduous trees than evergreens at this moment, but there is still a plethora of cedar to choose from.

In the first day of autumn outlook, I could see that many cedars overlook the ponds.  Which one is the right one? 

If you visit the Earth Sanctuary, and walk along the edges of the ponds, look up the hill to the other side.  There is a cedar there.  You might have to search for a moment or two.  You will find it, the one that is perfect, the one that reminds you that I am present in the universe… with you, now, and forever. Just be still.  And know…

143. The Scourge of Langley, Fluffy Bunnies

There is a sort of softness that goes with a city overrun by these creatures, casually roaming the sidewalks. An appeal. I felt… understood. Welcomed. Warmed.

Kwami was particularly intrigued.  As we drove down the hill toward Langley, Whidbey Island, there were several furry friends having lunch in the grass.  Rather, lunch was the grass.  The rabbits ranged in color from beige to taupe to black, definitely not the wild variety.

I have visited Langley, WA, but I have never experienced this before!  I spent some time lamenting about the care of domestic rabbits gone wild.  They often suffer and starve in the winter, not inherently created for our landscape.  I mused that perhaps they were city props, fixed before release, fed in the winter.  

There is a sort of softness that goes with a city overrun by these creatures, casually roaming the sidewalks.  An appeal.  I felt… understood.  Welcomed.  Warmed.

Two brown fluffy bunnies on the grass in Langley, WA, USA.
Langley Fluffy Bunnies

Upon investigation when we returned home, I found an NBC piece titled “Hundreds of Bunnies Plague Langley”.  Plagued?  Really?  In 2015, they didn’t know what the word plague meant.  Apparently, city residents wanted to (or maybe did) unleash the raptors.  Maybe there are raptors we could unleash on Covid 19, a presidential suggestion coming soon.

There had been an escape from the fair internment camps.  The rabbits plotted in the night.  Jail break.  And now, they are very successfully taking over, free roaming the island, breeding at will.

The Scourge.  I’m having trouble with this horrible plague.  Maybe I can’t take their happy little hops or their fluffy little tails or the vigorously wiggling noses all that seriously.  Worst case scenario… “there’s very good eatin’ on one of these, you know.”  (Terry Pratchett, Small Gods)