Today the sun appeared over the edge of the mountains at 10:30 a.m. It scooted sideways (to the right) and then set at 4:30 p.m. The sunlight was low lying; the shadows it cast were lengthy.

I realized that this is as good as we are going to get for the next couple of months. I am glad that I don’t live in Barrow, where the sun sets in the winter and does not rise until spring. Well, it might be fun to be there in the summer – I’m sure that then its one hell of a party.

I studied this morning – the low lying light came in the kitchen window made reading difficult. So I turned my chair and had it to my back. I did get out after a bit, but not soon enough. There just was not enough time to do what I most wanted to do,

Alys and Hrimmi and Rainbow and Ryder

which was to set up the agility course. Pete had plowed it yesterday, in readiness for the December Christmas course.

We took Tyra and Raudi out on Siggi’s loop. The Christmas tree cutters were also out – I told two pairs that we encountered that the larger spruce are all dying, and so everyone’s taking the younger, smaller, healthier trees is depleting the numbers. They all looked apologetic and just continued on their way.

I know, I know, I should not say anything. Most likely, after they will counter my claims, that the numbers are diminishing by telling one another that “that woman is seriously wacked. Look, there are plenty of trees.” So really, there is no way of getting the message across to people.

We humans are relentless consumers who think that by virtue of being at the top of the food chain, that we are extremely intelligent. Well, yes, we have hindsight. But hindsight is no good unless you have foresight. Foresight enables you to imagine, based on scientific evidence, what might come to be.

It’s a veritable knock knock game right now. As in:
Knock knock, who’s home?
No one is home.
Someone must be home because it was said that no one was home.
No, no one is home.

I just said that someone is home because it was said no one was home. Ad infinitum.

So the ATVers will continue to trash the trails, the tree gatherers will continue to take the trees, and the hunters will continue to take the moose. And in time some in positions of power will advocate that the area I am speaking of, the Matanuska Moose Range, be developed. That is, roads and housing developments will be put in. And people will happily drive on the roads and inhabit the houses.

My thinking is that I am glad I won’t be around to see this. I think this way because I am not, nor will I ever be, in a position of power. No one is ever going to listen to me or hear what I have to say. Maybe tomorrow, a conversation with the spruce trees.

Next: 340. 12/9/19: Sick and Stressed