Warm October 2007

In late October, twenty years ago, I remember wearing an winter coat in the morning and a flannel shirt in the afternoon occasionally. This October is HOT. Temperatures in the 80s (F). Little or no rain. Discussing this with a friend, the word we came up with to describe our feelings is surreal. I'm feeling off-center, as are others, as the months that were once cold become warmer, the water in our area slowly disappears over the years of repeated droughts, and the natural cycles seem to waver and wobble from the norms established over centuries. Watching the world change with a critical eye is unnerving. The next great adventure is here. Surviving and thriving in a warming world will definitely be doable, but will require a level of alertness and inventiveness that will challenge us all.