Why are you ... .... ....... ? Take 1

Just never open your mouth again Guy. My words of advice to myself. As the emotion gets ratcheted up extreme levels of fear and loathing. Do not be afraid. 

Shithole countries… what's so funny about Peace Love and Understanding… Meanwhile:

  I saw my first Salmon ever in California in a Creek… I know it's a little embarrassing that it has taken me so long. Though this is only my third winter living in 'the Valley' and the Salmon don't come up the creeks of San Rafael and San Anselmo and I was down by the Inkwells looking for them yesterday didn't see any. Saw a bunch of cars parked at the Shafter Bridge Salmon viewing area. Being me I have to go where there aren't a lot of people a little further downstream. I got a good hike in… wandered down by the creek with my old Nikon with Kodak Film inside. It was a gray January day… I saw no signs of Salmon. I watched by the shallow white water maybe I didn't wait long enough… I had some exciting pictures to take of Lichen on Redwoods. That was yesterday.

  Today something extra beautiful about it  …  maybe MLK's spirit. Good conversations were emerging everywhere… my Inverness connection to Aldous  Huxley informed me of the connection of drugs to Buddhism…. I am skeptical .. he insists.. All those Upanishad stuff … Mushrooms he says. What??? I doubt him… Oh yes he says. All those Mushrooms growing out of the Cow Dung. Duh! Why are cows sacred in India? hmmm I say.. Maybe Hinduism someone else suggested .. down at the Pumphouse Coffee shop. Maybe I should read 'Hope and Tragedy' by Carol Quigley someone suggests… 

  Meanwhile as I walk home I pause again at the creek about 100 yards west of The Paper Mill Creek Saloon down by the intersection of Arroyo Road and Castro Road and there was a little inviting path to the creek which I am maybe 20 feet from by the road but I walk in and look down in a fairly deep pool of cold blue creek winter water and there he (or she) is … grown up Coho Salmon moving very slowly upstream. … … that fish was exhausted. It's tail fins seem to be generating about three inches of forward motion for every … for a lot of work. I guess it was just resting ..It's big old body .. probably about a 10 to 13 pound fish (as I just read that that tends to be the weight of a fully grown Coho.) It's big old dark scaled body seemed a dark brown color and his/her tail from about 3 inches or so removed from the start of the tail fins was white. The fins were white that last few inches of old Salmon what were they …. so beaten by the 8 or 10 mile journey up he San Geronimo Creek every thrust every leap every slap of the tail against some whitewater/rocks beaten away it's scales.. taking the very coloring from it's body. No I am not a biologist .. Maybe he had an albino condition. 

  Spawn and Die! That's it kids. These guys know it without knowing it or maybe they do know it. Humans on the other hand. Clever species we are.  I take out my trusty flip phone and begin a cool conversation with a musician who is probably to damn good for me to work with but we were setting up a get together when someone from across the other side of the creek comes out of his backyard towards the creek. Well I am about to maybe point out this big old cool Salmon that s making me very happy …  Hey did you see? I didn't get to say that.  …. The guy says something from across the creek, seemed important, I pause my conversation on the phone. Excuse me? 'Why are you on my property?' He says in a not particularly friendly manner…

  Oh God! My poor brain can't take it. I look at this beautiful Creek, down at this splendid Fish in this incredible setting.. then at this Guy looking at me from the other side of the creek, white haired probably my age, something made me think 'Progressive' maybe it was his glasses, nevermind Guy. (Guy you are nothing but a dam Republican these days! )You are on my property, you passed my clearly visible No Trespassing Sign' I protect the vegetation here.

  If I had one ounce of quick witted abilities God! The things I might have said.

  All I could think of or didn't think of but just said was 'Creeks are for People' which in retrospect doesn't sound all that brilliant. No it's all private property. If you are a bona fide Native American do you get special privileges? I imagined Creeks and Rivers of America all owned by ordinary 'good Americans' no you can't stop here. no you can't stop on the banks of the Mississippi these are my banks of the River… we have special designated viewing areas maybe 10 miles down that way. get in your car and drive. What you don't own a car? You just walk around here? 

  Funny how something so seemingly special for a few moments becomes something so different … ah well Nature prevails.   Beautiful Salmon .... Beautiful Creek ..  too many people.