Editor’s Note: Prior to moving to Orcas Island, for many years, former South Beach resident, Greg Books, shared his observations on the natural world in our neck of the woods with readers of the South Beach Bulletin. The following essay first appeared in this publication in on Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, 1993, in the Bulletin’s first year of production.
It has become an annual tradition to share Books’ continuously relevent Thanksgiving message at this time each year.
Naturally Thankful
Thank you ocean, for always being there when I need your peace. When the problems of the world get me down, you’re always there to soothe away the stress with your rhythmic massaging of the land’s edge. You do such a find job of putting things in perspective. I always leave you feeling refreshed.
Thank you gulls for gracing the sky with your wings. Your soaring lifts my spirits when I’m down and inspires me to innovate when I’m feeling dull. Thank you also for teaching me to protect what is mine because there always seems like someone out there trying to take it away.
Thank you wind and tide for erasing the marks of the day and replacing them with a fresh slate of sand. It reminds me of how ephemeral we humans are, of how important it is to treasure each day as it unfolds and that every morning is a fresh start.
Thank you drizzle and cold. Were it not for your bone-chilling tendencies, we’d be over-run with Californians by now.
Thank you razor clams, for holding your own against that nasty NIX infection. And thanks to all the biologists and resource managers who monitor the population levels and health of the razor clams so that we can enjoy their bounty far into the future.
Thank you sand dollars for being so unique. I never tire of marveling at your wondrous form and your unique niche.
Thank you salmon, for hanging in there. We humans have not been very respectful of you or your habitat in the past. Perhaps slowly we are getting our acts together and we trust that you’ll do what you can to hang on a little longer while we do more to ensure your long-term survival.
Thank you Peregrine Falcon for returning from the brink of extinction to thrill us with your skill and agility. Your bold tactics and relentless pursuit of your quarry inspires me to push hard toward meeting my own goals, despite the obstacles and challenges.
Thank you slugs, for reminding me that the race doesn’t always go to the fastest. Patience and persistence are virtues I always think of when I see you slowly going about your version of survival.
Thank you fishermen and women for risking your lives bringing in the seafood we rely on. Few consumers know how hard you work, how expensive it is to stay in business and how little control you have over quotas and market prices. Thanks for being so tough.
Thank you Coast Guard personnel. We all sleep a little better knowing that you’re watching over our shores and are ready at a moment’s notice to rescue our friends and loved ones should they need help.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.