concerned and thankful ramble

Well, what's new you ask...  

Other than the fact that we have a pair of great horned owls roosting and I think two babies in the big hole in the tree?  Isn't that enough?  (When the babies are a little more visible I will share photos.  So far I have one pretty good photo of one eye with a bunch of dark grey fluff.  Not so impressive.)

I am fascinated by the fact that so many people are discussing different parts of the same issue.  Without even addressing any of the bigger (National, political) issues, the people around here are very concerned about How Ellensburg and Kittitas County will fare in the future.  With fuel prices skyrocketing, how will our local agricultural economy be affected... both in the cost to produce their crops and to get them to market, and what price is the market willing to pay?  How about the whole weird bio-fuel thing, which is great in that it reduces our dependency on fossil fuels, but the other, unforeseen, side of the coin is that we're now growing corn and other oily seed crops for that purpose, rather than using that space for growing food for humans or animals (that usually end up feeding humans).   How about the questions regarding delivering irrigation water to 33 individual land parcels that are 3 acres each, instead of delivering it to one (or maybe five) owners of that 100 acres?  

And this leads directly to a discussion of the future, where will we be in 10, 15, 50 years?  And will that be acceptable?  Who do you think will be county commissioners and city council members then?  Our kids?  Our grandchildren?  What are we teaching them?  Will they write letters to the editor, attend the meetings, get involved, become a fully participating member of ... whatever the community is at that time?  

This is turning into a ramble, but originally my point was to give kudos to EVERYONE that in some way is making a difference.  If you sit in front of the tube and play video games and eat junk food all weekend, you're not making any difference, and I'm not talking to you.  I'm talking to the people I see at the meetings, at the gatherings, the educational opportunities who are DOING THINGS and MAKING A DIFFERENCE!  It takes an amazing amount of energy for a few committed people to overcome collective apathy, and my hats are off to you.  You have earned my respect by continuing to model strength, perseverance and hope, setting a great example for many.   I hope you know who you are.  

Thanks tons.