I got an email yesterday morning from Jennifer Brennan of Allied Waste. She’s the beaver supporter that has helped us for two years with trash cans at the festivals. Seems she was watching the weather get cooler and thinking compassionately about what it would be like to be homeless as the days get more unpleasant. She went rummaging through her house and found some blankets she would like to donate for the homeless, and she wants to get her coworkers to contribute.
Why did she email me? Because she wants to give these supplies specifically as a thank you for “keeping an eye on the beavers.”And she hoped I could connect her with our creek regulars to make sure that the most beaver benevolent get the bulk of her donation.
It is true that some of our most regular faces at the dam site are people without a home to go to. I am always surprised how much beaver information they have picked up over the years, and how, by and large, they have been protective. (Maybe they can relate because Martinez hasn’t exactly been thrilled about their presence either!) I think Jennifer’s idea is a great way to encourage further protection, and a truly compassionate act that makes a lot of sense.
She will work on her employees and get back to me. If you’d like to add anything to the contribution (like sleeping bags or jackets) let me know and we’ll coordinate.
My second story of generosity came at the end of the day, when I was attending the John Muir Association Board Meeting. Turns out one of our local NPS rangers, Ralph Bell, is in Samoa doing crisis work through the National Park site there. The park had several rangers go missing after the tsunami last week, and has been involved in the rescue and grief work efforts as well.
As a grad student I was peripherally involved with supporting the CalTrans workers who were doing the horrific front-lines work of dealing with our own earthquake disaster nearly 20 years ago. Often Caltrans was the first on the scene, and these were some grisly scenes. I know its tough, draining and exhausting work, and part of what makes it bearable is the comfort and support of the people who are doing it with you.
So thanks Ralph and NPS for helping samoan victims recover and restart their lives. Our beaver friend from New Zealand, William Huges-Games, just wrote that it feels like a war zone in that part of the world right now. New Zealand has gotten part of that weird orange dust from Australia, a lot of random earthquakes, and a tsunami warning after nearby Samoa’s troubles. They are kind of holding their breath to see what might happen next. As we creep closer to October 17th, we can completely relate to a terrifying and dislocating earth-rumbling event, and we are grateful there are people like Ralph and Jennifer to help out.
