Good things for you and I
M2656, M2657, M2658
“Good Things” by the BoDeans takes me back to high school, or at least to that time period in “the late nineteen-hundreds” as kids today say in that cruel way they have, of making you feel like a relic. Ha. The early-nineties…
I just now learned that the lyrics are actually “Haunted love is all that I feel… Haunted love is all that I see…” and I always thought it was, I don’t know, something like, “One thin love is all that I feel” which makes not a lot of sense—but a lot of things don’t make any sense at all.
Hey everybody I SAW THE NEWBORN WOLVES TODAY.
Above: a picture of them from the museum blog at their recent (second) checkup.
I’d heard their habitat would likely be reopening to the public today, June 2… and reader, I’m proud to say I was the first one there. In fact, I arrived and had a couple of transcendent, sacred moments “alone” with Oka (the dad) and the pups, who have just started to venture out of their den and explore the world a bit more.
I had already decided, given all the ongoing insanity and hardship right now, to share today just a few, small, random pleasant photos and recommendations — and then I went and actually got to see brand new critically endangered red wolves, these three babies. M2656, M2657, M2658—those are their studbook numbers, which mean they are literally the two thousand six hundred and fifty-sixth, fifty-seventh, and fifty eight red wolves, all males (that’s the “M”), descended from those initial 12-14 founding wolves taken from the wild and bred at Point Defiance Zoo in Washington state.
Here are some captured moments. First, arriving at the boardwalk I’ve described previously, that leads you down into the “Explore the Wild” habitat, where the wolves live.
It’s such an amazing museum, such a gift to have it so nearby.
Approaching the wolves: no howling! Imagine how crazy-making it would be for them if visitors howled at them all day. There are always wonderful staff attendants there to answer questions and help keep things calm.
I don’t have a zoom lens. See Oka staring at me from between the trees? This was when I first arrived.
Below: when I was still alone there and realized there were a couple of pups out. I was torn between being IN THE MOMENT and enjoying the experience and also taking a little video to share with my kids (and you!) so I did a bit of both.
Here is some footage from the den cam, you can see mom wolf Martha at the bottom of the screen.
The entrance to this den (one of at least two with cameras) was right behind the grape-like bushes visible below. This is my favorite video, as it shows Oka being the caring dad that wolves are—he is the one seen here, watchful beside the lil pup, and then cleaning him up a bit.
Just a glorious morning.
A couple other quick things:
Have enjoyed being able to gift flowers from our gardens recently
Speaking of gardens, the goldfinches have arrived. This footage is from my car window, they are on just some wildflower seed we’d scattered by the curb but they come because they love the coneflowers we planted. Also seen recently: hummingbirds (they like the “hot lips” salvia). It’s really true that if you plant it, they (awesome birds and butterflies) will come.
I was trying to post a “Noah’s Ark” gif in my daughter’s soccer team’s WhatsApp group after another rained out practice and WhatsApp offered to make an AI image so I agreed and it came up with an inaccurate representation (shocking, I know!) and many of the creatures were downright nightmarish, this made me laugh, here’s a closeup of some:
Here’s my dog, Milo, again, with an epic morning stretch:
Just a small sampling of some of the things I learned about at our recent annual block party:
A UFO/alien encounter app (now installed on my phone)
Rogue rewilding that’s happening in the UK
At least half the folks on the block are accomplished, active musicians
Deep midlife realizations
New person moving in is an “animal communicator”!!
To quote Corey Feldman from 1989’s The Burbs: “God, I love this street.”
Take care of yourselves.