By Staff
It's not nice to fool Mother Nature! Duck! Here come deafening claps of thunder and eye blinding bolts of lightning.
It's not nice to fool Mother Nature; however, it's fine for Mother Nature to fool us.
Somehow the scales of fairness are tipped and we come out on the short end – always.
So, when will humans stop trying to balance the scales?
When will we learn that Mother Nature is much, much more powerful than the strongest of us?
Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and drought – we're helpless when they assail. The most we can do is take cover and head for the hills, except during earthquakes.
Believe me, I'm not about to fool Mother Nature or tempt fate. I'll stay in this little corner of the world and duck when I have to. I'm not going to swim the Amazon – that guy who is attempting to conquer the 3,000 plus miles of treacherous river doesn't have all his oars in the water! Come on – is that really necessary?
And then there are the two women, one man and one dog rescued from Mount Hood this week.
Good grief – didn't we learn anything from the fate of the three climbers who died on that very mountain only a couple of months ago?
I merely shook my head in amazement that anyone would want to climb a mountain, let alone in the winter.
I wonder if tax money paid for their rescue?
Perhaps permits should be issued and waivers signed by the daredevils absolving all governmental units from responsibility should an "adventure" turn deadly.
It's one thing for governmental agencies to assist humans and animals during and after a natural calamity; it's another to go after someone, at taxpayers' expense, who is reckless and out for the thrill of it all.
Okay, so I'm not adventurous! I like to keep my feet on the ground. I don't do amusement parks or ride insane roller coasters. I'll never bungee jump. I won't swim the Amazon or climb Mount Hood.
I can live quite well without such exhilaration. Climbing stairs at home and kneeling and genuflecting in church (there was the time when I missed the kneeler and crashed the floor with both knees!) are about the extent of my mountain climbing.
In no way am I going to challenge Mother Nature.
No, I don't like storms. I don't like icy steps and slippery roads. I like to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
I'm into all creature comforts that are safe! In no way will I thumb my nose at Mother Nature by being reckless. I respect her. I'll duck, run for cover, do whatever is necessary to stay as safe as possible during one of her tantrums. I refuse to "spit in her eye."
Now, Mother Nature, I'm not really trying to tell you what to do and I'm not trying to fool you, but it's time to listen to the Groundhog and end this year's winter.
It's time to put away my fur hat.
Thank you. I don't ask for much. Just this one favor. Thank you again.