The Perils of Safety

    Modern society is too focused on keeping safe. That may sound strange, but just look at us. As I'm sitting on my back porch, I watch a grown man riding his bike on a quiet, residential street, in the middle of a sunny afternoon, while wearing a helmet, reflective vest, and knee pads. Knee pads! Really? Whats the worst that can happen? Skinned knees?
    Look around. At the entrance to most grocery stores is a giant container of antibacterial wipes so we can sanitize the cart. Why stop there? Why don't we wipe down the checkout or the shelves, or the THOUSANDS of other items in the store??
    How about smoking bans in bars? Out of all the things that go on in bars, I would think smoking would be the least of our worries. "... but what about protecting the employees from the dangers of second hand smoke?" Duh! Its a bar!! They're adults. They know what they are getting into when they're hired. I'm not a smoker myself, so I simply wouldn't work there.
    Don't get me wrong. I know the world can be a dangerous place, but we can't encase ourselves, or our children, in a protective bubble. Life is full of risks, but when we try too hard to protect ourselves from every little thing, we find ourselves with too many rules and not enough  creativity, exploration or fun.

A Walk Along the Creek

    Last Friday was a perfect day. Sunny and comfortably cool, the kind of day that begs to be experienced outdoors. After a light brunch at my favorite restaurant and a quick peek to see if my favorite pagan shop had any new treasures, I went for a long stroll along a creekside park in my community.

                                         

                 It had rained the night before, so the water was moving fast.

                    The honeysuckle was blooming everywhere!

       Its hard to tell from this picture, but this snapping turtle was HUGE!

        I couldn't resist taking off my shoes and sinking my toes into the grass.

              I found this beautiful moss agate pendulum at the shop.

The Smell of Rain

   It rained today. not a hard, pounding rain, but a gentle spring rain. The kind that cools the air, settles the pollen and brings out the green of leaves and grass.
    My favorite part is the smell; fresh, clean and green. a smell of cool, calm tranquility. There are no worries here, just the sensation of damp grass between my toes, the joy of birdsong, and peace.