Weekend Lost

Sure Paradise was lost but ever lose a weekend? I seem to have done just that. Days go by quite nicely at the McNary NWR and when Thursday ends I leave that hat behind and go off for serendipity stuff.

Well this time I goofed. Early Friday morning off I went to Columbia Basin College to help staff a booth that would at the most optimistic garner a new volunteer or 2 for the Refuge. Hundreds of school kids were bused in to see every aspect of the greening of the tri-cities. I informed them all that like the two animals represented by their hides, we are all mammals born without teeth therefore must be fed on milk until we grow them.
That wasn’t really a surprise to the kids but they did like to touch the soft fur on the river otter and the beaver. However we had no giveaway – no tidbit, fan, balloon. That was OK. They already had a bag full of stuff they weren’t going to look at anyway. So they were sweet and asked about the pictures we had of kids playing at the Refuge. Many kids looked at the name and said, “Oh, I’ve been there.” Or some asked, “Didn’t you tell stories in the teepee?”
I did renew some acquaintances from years past. I took myself out when Deb came to my relief. The booth work was tiring. The parking lot was so huge and so full of cars with no number identification anywhere so it took a bit of searching to find my car. Anyway it didn’t take long for me to hit the sack after I go home.
But I was back again on Saturday, somewhat later because I planned to close up at 4 pm and haul the display back to the Refuge. That day was even more tiring. Many businesses had set up out side the Gjerde building and did fun activities, kept them busy. You should see the sun cooker I got for a single wiener. Have to go buy some so I can use it – when the sun shines again. (hasn’t today).
Sunday I had some relief with my freethought hour. That bunch is relaxing to talk to. A college student did put up an argument with a man who was describing the value of his union in the theatre atmosphere in New York where he works for several years as a stage hand. Scott couldn’t see any reason why the government had any thing to do with regulating the unions. As a citizen he said a bunch of workers at a corporation should be able to get together and stand up to management without formal organizing of a union. Well I couldn’t explain it but it was clear that such a group wouldn’t get any health coverage or wage consideration either. But he didn’t get it.
I was very glad that I had to go open the Refuge and help our Swiss volunteers with their bird walk. Twenty folks came to a late Sunday afternoon bird walk that the Swiss had literally worked their butts off to advertise all over the place. By 5 pm I was well spent. They did convince me there was a lot more work I could do to get people out to the Refuge. But this kid ain’t gonna do it. Not with hours of time needed.
So this morning, Monday, I was at the Refuge once again wondering where my weekend went.
Naomi Sherer