Systems at work

In Oaxaca, Gabino Cué takes over the governorship. He will have his hands full. There are more protests and blockades. I think the teachers are planning a megamarch. Things don't just change because the politicians do. I guess we are seeing that in the US. As with Bush, it will take weeks/months/years to dig out from the last six years of URO.

Ulises will go down in the history books and I do not think the reviews will be glowing.... depending on who writes them. Like George, I am sure he will write one himself and come off as the hero, a decent sort of guy, a guy, you know, that you would like to sit down with and have a cerveza with.

I have always enjoyed studying systems and cycles. Gardening teaches one as surprising amount about them. There are harsh winters, drought, insects, bad luck to deal with. And then there are the times, albeit fleeting, when things are sublime, bountiful, beautiful.

I have spent the last few months working in the gardens in Oaxaca and it feels nice to be working in one up here. Two totally different environments, but common threads and problems connect them. This place is prepped for winter, leaves raked and put into a huge pile for composting. Everything is pruned and cleaned up.  Let it snow.

I am ready to return to San Sebastian and continue the work there, which is all in prep of the rainy season, some six months away.  Now I remember.  I was sore on the flight up here from all the weed-whacking and digging. I'll probably be sore on my flight back which is fine as long as it isn't from shoveling snow.

I did dig up lots of pachysandra and plant it in my neighbor's yards. That is one of the best things about gardening, the "Johnny Appleseed" aspect of planting things just to plant them, essentially to make the place you happen to be a little better. And then move on to do it all again.

Now what this has to do with Ulises or Cué or Obama or you, I'll let you figure out.  Maybe nothing.