Unle Miltie

 Here we are in Palm Bay waiting for Uncle Miltie, well, really Hurricane Milton.  All the outside has been cleared of furniture that might blow away, flower pots are in safe places, water pump in readiness on the patio.  News broadcasts show the path changing slightly as he nears the west coast, somewhat more to the south now, between Sarasota and Venice.  Family over there say they are prepared as well as they can be, or have evacuated to safer territory.  We should experience rain and wind as the force decreases between the west coast and here.  Nothing to do now but wait.

The Old Man

 Today, I let "the old man" in.  I'm referring to that quote of Clint Eastwood's when asked how he keeps on doing the things he does.  He answered, "When I get up in the morning, I don't let the old man in".  Or words to that effect.

Yesterday I had the 4th of a series of 6 BCG treatments for bladder/kidney cancer.  It hit me harder than any of the previous ones.  In 2012 I was diagnosed with "carcinoma in situ" of my bladder.  Fortunately, it was found early and the 6 treatments were successful.  This time we won't know until 6 weeks after the final treatment.  In the meantime, I try to keep the old man out, but he sure is persistent.

Cranes

 Marching majestically down the lane

Come the regal Sandhill Crane.

Summer is a Comin'

 The Plumeria are in full bloom.  Sandhill Cranes visit occasionally along with a pair of ducks.  The feeders continue to attract Cardinals, Bluejays, Woodpeckers, Sparrows, Doves and Grackle.

Squirrels help clean up the food dropped from the feeders, but they're not able to climb up to get at the source.  A length of stovepipe around the post keeps them off.  Temperature and humidity are beginning to rise to warn us of the coming summer.  We've seen a few of the launches at the space center, watching from the front lawn.  It takes a few minutes from the sight of the launch until the roar reaches us.  Impressive.

The Feeding Station on Gillmar Avenue

 

The Feeding Station on Gillmar Avenue

 

A Cosanti Chime announces the breeze.

As Woodpecker shrieks his way

To the suet.

Is it an invitation to feast

Or warning a solitary repast?

Shy Cardinal flits cautiously,

Startled by any movement,

Ready to shrink into the nearest tree.

Bluejay blathers in,

Elbows flailing,

Finding the choicest morsels.

Meanwhile, Mourning Doves

Nonchalantly

Pick at scattered seeds

Dropped from the largess above,

Ready to leave

At the unseen, unheard signal

Erupting in a whirr,

To flee

And whirl

And return

Acting fully nonchalant again.

Hummingbird helicopters through,

Ignoring everyone.

 

                                        Palm Bay, Florida

                                        April 2024

 Hello from Florida

After 15 years at Westminster Village in Scottsdale, Arizona, I have moved to Palm Bay, Florida to live with my son and daughter-in-law.  Last September, my bride of 46 years died of a cancer on the back of her tongue, a "smoker's cancer" according to her doctors - she never smoked, so figure that out.

After due consideration, the family and I agreed to move closer to family, so here I am, an official Floridian with a Florida ID card to prove it.  So a new chapter begins.

Just Plain US

Not too long ago, an American male died while being taken into custody by a group of law-enforcement officers. The officers have been arrested, charged with murder, and are awaiting as their case makes its way through the judicial system. We do follow the rule of law here in America.
In the meantime, large groups of Americans are peaceably protesting against this instance and other instances of police brutality across the country, in the hope that something beneficial will be done now. Also, in the meantime, other groups of Americans are using the above death as an excuse to destroy and loot property, attack and shoot at protesters, innocent by-standers and law-enforcement officers, in the hope that our American way of life will be replaced by something less free than a democracy.
In the background of all this, a large collection of politicians, ably assisted by the media, have been busy ensuring that their compartmentalization of America continues. You know the labels: White, Black, Latino, Jew, Christian, Muslim, African-American, Italian-American, etc. As long as we allow these labels to exist, we will never be able to come together as who we really are – Americans.