I think the harder part of living in one place for so long is our ability to actually see and feel how the climate changes are affecting all we know and love about our place. Essentially, the mountains of WNC have always been a rain forest, until the past 10 years or so. Now there are long droughts, the heat comes early and stays late. The trees and plants that have grown and done well and are “native” to this place, no longer thrive. Everything must be watered or that tree or those plants may not survive. I understand its adapt or move, but along with my personal discomfort with these changes (this much sun is hard on my particular autoimmune disease) I am watching things I have loved here die. And because the weather vacillates so much in a short period of time, it’s hard to keep pace

Thank you for this lovely essay and your writing is wonderful. It eases me just to know there are others coping and dealing with these issues. So many people ignore what’s happening or pretend it’s normal, but it isn’t. If you’re a farmer or grower, or love to spend most of your free time outdoors, paying attention, you (they) would at least be cognizant and we could help each other.

Thanks again for reminding us about ritual and prayer, too. I speak to everything I tend and encourage them as much as I can.