Here's What I Think About That

An accidental summer guest flew in on a wing and quickly realized he’d made a big mistake. Like most startled birds, he instinctively flew upwards toward the blue patch visible through the skylight atop the second story of the house. That’s where I cornered the bright yellow bird, cupping him gently between my hands, pulling him down from the window and into my chest.

Sneaking a peek between my fingers revealed this was no American goldfinch but rather a Wilson’s warbler. Such a gentleman he was, no fussing or flapping between my palms, he waited patiently to meet his fate as I walked him outside to set him free.

Slowly opening my hands at eye level, instead of disappearing in a flash of yellow, the tiny warbler perched atop my index finger to regain his bearings. He turned his head towards my face long enough for me to watch his eyes blink several times. Giving me a quick upward nod of his head, he turned away and flew off. 

Sometimes nature insists, comes inside and drags us out to enjoy and participate whether we want to or not.

We all need to unplug ourselves and walk away from the screen. Go to the park, go to the beach, bathe in the forest with a simple walk in the woods. Be still and quiet in your own backyard and let the constant demands of the outside world fall away for a bit. Simply being outside for a few hours listening to the sounds of nature and doing nothing will help to feel recharged.

The Key Peninsula is a summer playground with something for everyone. Young, old and every age in between you’ll find no shortage of fun things to do while reading this month’s edition.

Fourth of July celebrations take place from morning till midnight, from one end of the KP to the other. It represents the only day of the year our dogs want no part in, thank you very much. We’re guaranteed to have at least one big dog cowering shamefully in the relative safety of the bathroom while the rest of us white knuckle it through another night of celebratory bangs, booms, pops and squeals followed by oohs and aahs until everyone is satisfied or the money runs out.

Summer delivers opportunities to engage and connect with each other whether chatting away in line for an iced espresso, talking with parents while the kids play at the park, or sneaking into the nursery to take another look at that plant that caught your eye last week. We are by and large social creatures who end up gabbing about gardening, or laughing over the wild and whacky stuff for sale at the swap meet. 

In the middle of all these good times, we have a number of upcoming local civic responsibilities to tend to. Remember all that freedom from tyranny we celebrate in July? Part of what came from that Declaration of Independence was the notion of democratic rule the citizens of the United States of America, generation after generation, have prided themselves on so greatly through the right to vote.

While our obsession with national politics may rule the day, do not doubt that local politics matters. It is the Peninsula School District board, the Key Pen Parks commissioners, and KP fire commissioners who make important policy decisions and essential hiring choices who oversee the largest budgets on the KP.

In this issue you’ll have an opportunity to meet two local candidates running for the Peninsula School Board and to learn about the upcoming fire district emergency services levy. In August, you’ll meet other candidates as well. Summer is a great time to seek these people out, talk to them and learn what they think. The beauty of living in a small community is being able to engage with candidates personally, to help guide your decisions when you cast a ballot in November.

First priority is August 6, the last day to cast your ballot for the EMS levy. No matter how you vote, what matters most of all is that you do.