Reality’s soft solutions

Fruits of my labor. (image ©)

Still life.

The reality is.

Despite storms – of your own making, of thoughts, or elements

It’s still life.

This is the last batch  – for now, anyway.

Life’s fabric gets torn pretty regularly.

Beds for displaced pets – not home, but something more than harsh concrete and confusion. Good to do what you can when you can.

Animal rescue teams are still here assisting the storm pets in shelters. Fortunate. Distemper has broken out in one large pet shelter facility with 15 dogs now in isolation. Vets are taking care it, but for humans and animals living in close quarters is not ideal.

There are stories daily of owners being united with animals. Monday a tired white horse stepped out of the trailer and gratefully buried her head in her owner’s shoulder. This one had been injured and was located in Austin being cared for by a vet clinic there. Pet finder groups and shelters are doing a remarkable job locating and arranging for people and pets to get back together. Home is where your person is.

People ask how it is going here after Harvey. Uneven as some areas got hit harder than others.

Houston’s mayor expects the majority of trash along roads to be cleaned up in 4-6 months. This city is used to reinventing itself. There was constant construction before the storm. We always tell people that if you don’t travel any part of Houston for a month or so, you won’t be able to recognized it when you go back through it. The building landscape changes quickly. Architects and historians weep, but the city is organic and defies musing or restraint. If only the roads were routinely improved as well. Visitors often say they have never seen a city with so many giant metal plates spanning the road. It’s the continual utilities work to keep up with the building. Add in the occasional floods, a few washed out areas, and a much too generous sprinkling of potholes and you understand why we tell people you need a truck or SUV if you live here and have to commute. Not kidding about that or everyone should have flood insurance. One bright observation immediately after the storm, the highways that were open never looked cleaners – washed and wind blows to perfection.

Rockport, where the storm made landfall is still in survival mode.( Think recent images of Puerto Rico). It’s a tourist, retirement, sports fishing, “snow bird”, bird watching  coastal town and it looks like this winter will not be prosperous unless things get up and running soon.

But people are optimistic.

The thing is that it’s Texas. This is a harsh unforgiving climate – as many places.

Earth really isn’t human friendly – a theme in science as well as literature.

The ones who came to this area were hardy folk – many had burned bridges behind them.

It was sink or swim . Literally, as this year has proved.

Adapt, bend, break, or leave

Many did and will this time.

After all, after the chaos and noise of any storm is silence.

And you have, still, life.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

Still more? Oh, yeah I could go into the symbolism of flashlights and glasses – sun glasses – birds and the picture – but wouldn’t that be like your high school English teacher pointing out all the symbolism in a literary selection you were enjoying until she ruined it for you? Besides, there’s always the possibility that some things are simply coincidences or even clutter. People see what they want to see – and that’s OK. I see it’s time to go play with the dogs. (Image © all rights)