Extreme Rain Extreme Drought

The ebb and flow of South Florida weather varies from extreme rains to extreme drought. Within just several months our water index level has surpassed the drought reading and continues to rise. South Florida Water Management, our local government agency, recorded Lake Okeechobee at 14.93 feet. I am not surprised at the rising levels as the rains continue to keep us inside. Still the Osprey gently waiting out the rains. Gracefully with a bowed head, the raptor awaits for a weather break or even the morning when the fishing will be best.

As a young girl I can remember listening to the same pounding drops hit the roof, the grass, the asphalt, the car. The rains cometh and sometimes not. Climate change has prevented the normal storms through a rainy season. Thunder storms, tropical weather warnings-all are normal summertime memories. Ironically enough, all the efforts put forth to drain the Everglades for man dominating over nature is now the continual focus of reversal in hopes of preserving the endangered wetlands. 10,000 Islands of wetlands that tourists flock to, scientists study, and politicians avoid. My home is among all these islands. I simply hope to understand this place I call my home before the opportunity passes. 

Determination

This afternoon my son and I played outside. The close of September brings a welcome relief of cooler weather in South Florida, and I was happy to be able to enjoy playtime. We were fortunate enough to have a family of Osprey's visiting the scrub area (just over our fence) this week. So, I admit I had my camera out and this made playtime a little more exciting.  As the juveniles flew to the beach, one of the adults always watched and waited for their return. I have not witnessed an entire family in action and wished I had a digi-scope to see their dives for fish in the Atlantic. Then, the rains came. Hard, large drops. For hours now, the adult Osprey has not left the spot on the dead tree limb that he has occupied since before dinner. I am in awe of his position of family first, but truly his determination to remain on the exposed limb unencumbered by the happenings of the evening. During my saddest time (missing my mother who passed away years ago) or when I have the flu (recovering still), mother nature seems to send me these wonderful messages. I continue to believe my mother speaks to me in many different ways. The Osprey has been the messenger. As I look out my window squinting to see if the Osprey is still there, I can make out his silhouette with a tucked head as if in prayer. I only hope tomorrow brings as much enlightenment. 

Thinking more about meditation

I am always pausing to breathe. This is an absolute must as I conquer the day like a storm. Usually, I am up and going by 6:30am: breakfast, coffee, school clothes, dishes from last night, more coffee, clean up some accidental mess made to remind me to stop and breathe. I have to microwave my coffee. Out the door by 8am and at my computer by 8:30 ready to microwave my coffee, again. 

The pause is my solace. During an interview for the wetland bird project, I had one of those great Epiphanies. The natural ebb and flow of Florida's water cycles, the sever drought, severe rains bring continual variations that make predictions sometimes more dependable on patterns than singular events. History seems a vital piece of this equation. The other piece is how we as individuals and as a community choose to understand the variations in Florida's weather and in our own lives. We control the action and records in history; we can not control the events.