The Significance of Today – 47 and Kicking!

I been unable to post my daily peace historical events since I’ve been on the road (that will resume upon my return next week). I thought that I would post something today, however, since it is my birthday.  I will be spending the day in workshops and meetings here in Tuscon, but when I return I will be posting some great photos of our country’s landscape.

I feel fortunate that at age 47 I can climb mountains while carrying 30 pounds on my back.  I can scale boulder fields (not as gracefully as some, but I least I do it!), ford streams, and walk across steep snow fields.  Pretty good for not only my age, but also considering the fact that less than 15 years ago I was pretty significantly disabled with deteriorrating knees and hips causing me to have to use two canes to walk.  That is, until I took charge of my own health.    You’d never guess now that I had been in that condition.

As I have traveled the country this month I have seen lots of beautiful things in nature.  My favorite so far has been the desert in New Mexico and Arizona.  As I hiked a mountainside yesterday just west of Las Cruces, NM, and gazed about the valley from the top of one of the hills and marveled at the plant and animal life, I could not help but wonder why our precious land and life has suffered from the effects of nuclear testing.  Surely those who make the decisions to drop bombs in our deserts have not sat on top of a mountain, as I did yesterday, and witnessed the beauty of our surroundings or pondered the web of life.

My birthday wish would be to have as many people as possible to begin walking – around their neighborhoods, valleys, states, and regions.  Just walk – and see what you see.  You will be amazed and hopefully will see things you took for granted and begin to understand the changes we all must make to stop the destruction of our planet and all its life.