24/04/2024
Happy Mother Earth Day!
Dear Mother,
I know I have neglected to write, and never seem to find a way to tell you how I really feel, so I thought I would just take some time and let you know how grateful I am. Thank you for everything.
You have given of yourself so generously, asking for so little in return. In fact you really ask for nothing, and I kind of wish you would speak up and let me know what you want and need because, boy, is it easy to just take you for granted! I guess I would just like more hints about what to do for you, what would you like from me?
I try to keep you in mind all the time, but is it enough?
I am hoping that you enjoyed the to***co I sprinkled on the four corners of the altar during that last ceremony. And the way I poured water onto your bare back like a gift. That was good, right? Also we had that song circle where we sang to you around the fire which kind of scorched your skin, just a tiny bit, but the songs were really sweet, the way they wafted out into the clean air and floated through the trees.
I thought you might have liked how we all went hiking in a group and sang your praises, drinking in the views that you created as if it were nothing.
And you know how we relish all your creatures. And all that you do in the spring time. Oh my gosh, it is incredible and we are all truly blown away with your beauty! The creativity! I mean rhododendrons! Wow! Where did you ever get the idea?
And all the colors. It is just so cool to have this slow parade of blossoms, everything growing into itself at different times, with such diversity. I have no idea how you manage it all. I just am super grateful that I get to be here now, a part of everything.
I know you do different things in different places and at different times. The whole tilt thing and the seasons is really epoch and makes for such interesting possibilities. And what really blows me away is to ponder on how long you have been doing all this. So much for so long. Wow!
The dinosaur thing was amazing and I am super proud of how you did whatever you did to have so many different kinds of children do so well for so long and then just make way for others.
You are really a great mother, and I know I should say that more. Sometimes we want someone to just solve everything for us and take care of it all but you wisely set us free to find our own path, to make what we will of our time together, and to learn from our mistakes.
That is something I wanted to talk to you about. I do worry at times that we are not really learning. I see us making the same mistakes over and over. Do you notice that? I get concerned that it isn’t even about writing to you enough, or telling you how we feel, but that we actually are making things super hard for you just by not noticing or caring about how you feel or what you need.
I see how you act sometimes, those forest fires and the hurricanes and everything. I get it, you have every right to be super pi**ed. I feel like you are trying to warn us, by just gradually and occasionally letting loose your fury about having been so ignored.
I really want to do better, many of us do. I just seem to be kind of addicted to a few things like driving around and using the internet, and flying off to visit my family. I seems so innocuous, but I know that it adds up when we all do it. We just don’t give back enough to make up for all the resources that we take from you.
I was talking to one of your trees today. Oh my god, he is just so beautiful, tall, strong, straight and with huge spreading limbs that create a magic nurturing space beneath, really just stunning. I was trying to see if he was really ok with how things were going in his patch. He was reaching up to the sky and transforming all the sunshine into life and he just seemed fine, but who really knows. Lots of folks don’t want to share their troubles and they never ask for anything, we are just supposed to know what they are thinking somehow and figure out what they need. Well I gave him hugs and love, cuz everybody seems to like that pretty much, I also picked up some dog p**p so that he wouldn’t have to stand in it.
Is it enough to just feel grateful and to let you know? Can I just live my little life and do the best I can to appreciate this miracle. What can I sacrifice for you, Mother, who have given so much?
You have been a solid planet and a huge source of gravity, and that means the world to me. I really would do anything to express my gratitude, as long as I can keep driving around, using the internet, and flying off to be with my family. Anything! Just let me know. But if you tell me in the language of forest fires and hurricanes, I might not understand, just so you know.
Love always,
Maria
4/22/24
Maria Cook
