CHANGING WINDS

A deer is a beautiful animal to see. For the past three years, I have done "power-walking" 5 miles a day. After relocating here temporarily, condo's started going up everywhere and the deer habitat is disappearing. If I've had a busy day and can't get my walking in until dusk, I'll take a flashlight with me. And occasionally a small pack of deer will run out from between houses into the street. I respect them and keep a good safe distance so they can escape to the woods. There are usually plenty of other walkers out and we say "Hello". So, it's not as if this is a dangerous practice--to be doing the walking at dusk. During the Fall, the locals tell me the deer can become mean. If I am driving, the first fifteen minutes from my place, I really have to watch for them as they can dart out into the roadway without warning. At least the firecrackers from the 4th are over--which must have freaked them out. Urban blight. In 1998, I was asked by my friend Clive (see Road Rage With A Cool Accent) to join his then-fledgling non-profit organization as an Advisory Board member. Clive's mission is to educate people about the dangers of Rainforests disappearing worldwide in about a decade or so. He is a Botanist, Horticulturist and a Tree Surgeon. Our meetings were usually held over breakfast or lunch (mentioned in the Road Rage post). But while working on a board is a great honor, I've always felt you really have to be "in the arena" and not working 4 states away by telephone, FAX and snail mail. So, to be fair, I stepped down as my focus is taking me in Media and Entertainment directions. If I've learned anything from my time on the board, it was that people with so many different personalities and backgrounds could pull together and unite towards a good cause and make a difference. Like being good stewards of the environment! Something we can all take pride in!!