Sense memory from February 2011
When: February 2011
Where: Keechelus Lake (past Snoqualmie Pass)
With: volunteers for the Community Wildlife Tracking Project
What: tracking wildlife along I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass to gather data in support of a wildlife overpass (constructed!)
Accompaniment: Crisis 1&2 by The Dears
This was the last year I volunteered for snow tracking, finally accepting that I didn’t actually like the reality of doing science. I found myself antsy and bored as we collected all the data we needed to about each track / trail / sign that we spotted. Species, size, gait, location… Spotting tracks: cool. Documenting them: zzzzz.
That professor in college who said I wanted to do art, not science, was onto something 🤔 Turns out I like knowing how things work, but think collecting the data to figure it out is boring 😉 It can take a while to let go of something you’ve adopted into your identity, though, even when it’s the wrong fit.
When we finally release an old part of us, that time wasn’t a waste. We carry on changed. I may not practice science, but that imperative to dig deeper towards a better understanding, to test theories without attachment, to wonder why and how has been etched into my approach to life.
When did you realize an interest or goal wasn’t working out?
Share your story in the comments!
100% feel you on this. The joy’s in discovery, not cataloguing.
👏 nicely put
There was a point when I realized that if I wanted to make an impact on the health of the environment I would have to move from direct action (working in the Conservation Corps) to working in business as an influencer. This was a hard realization for little ms. crunchy granola. That realization has taken me on a truly wild and unexpected ride.
Thanks for sharing your images (evocative) and your musings (thought provoking).
Thanks Laurie! I bet that was a tough realization and transition – to lose the tangible feedback of direct work while also realizing you’re having a greater impact by getting others to change how they act. Over the past few years I’ve faced a similar challenge that I’m educating people about individual actions they can take to live greener but so many issues are systemic and there’s a limit to what we can accomplish by making changes in our personal lives. I’ve come down on the side of both things matter, and hoping that by empowering people to act personally they will care more and engage at higher levels – but there’s also the chance they might just do a few things and cross “environment” off their to do list 🤷♀️ Still thinking about my best way to help. At least in local government I can influence that level of decision making… we’ll see!