Reading this book changed the emphasis of my academic studies from geology/geomorphology to ecology, biogeography and soil science. Popular science at it most effectiveness. I had already been troubled by changes I'd seen growing up in a NH town where the signature tree was American Elm. The Elm beetle and attending Dutch Elm Disease came to town and fell upon those elms, causing rapid decline and forcing tree removals. To combat the pest, the town sprayed DDT on all trees in town. They repeated the treatment several times a summer for several years. The trees continued to die. So did most other bugs and bees serving the base of the food chain for birds and bats. I remember the silent summer when even the large numbers of town pigeons were reduced. At a time of day and year when the buzz and whine and flitting of insects ought to have filled the air, there was mostly silence. Very eerie feeling, even 60 years later.

Oh, do I understand! The house across the street was purchased three years ago by NJ woman who was going to retire in five years. She gets down here twice a year. The front yard is beach grass and weeds--the St. Augustine died a couple of years ago. She doesn't fertilizer the lawn because she doesn't have to do that in NJ. The sprinkler system quits when the electricity goes off. She removed a 7 year old orange and a matching lemon tree--they had thorns. They looked bad because they had never been fertilized and didn't get watered regularly. She cut back three red bay trees to 5-ft trunks and then applied to the city to remove them because they died. Her place looks neglected and unloved and the house needs paint. She just doesn't see it! Yards bordering her are well maintained. My yard across from her is also well maintained. She just doesn't care! I dread the day she moves here permanently!

I believe the gentleman installed the hood himself. He hadn't intended to miss the studs (as I understand the incident), but did. The moral is just to be careful and doubly careful and triply so; sometimes it matters less than other times and this is a time when missing the studs clearly, clearly mattered.

I used to be one of those people who didn't know what to say to people who lost someone close to them. I was afraid I'd put my foot in it, or trigger something emotional. I missed many opportunities to express my sympathy to others. Until my dear husband died. People came from considerable distance to attend his funeral. People sent cards, most containing a heartfelt message. It was very meaningful and comforting to me and a manifestation of how much he was loved. It's been almost 12 years (!!!) and I still have all those cards. I wrote thank-you notes to those who'd sent flowers or made donations in his name. Originally I thought, surely no for cards...so I checked some online etiquette site. Oh yes, thank-you cards for sympathy cards. Still in a daze, a week after I buried my husband, I went out and bought thank-you cards and stamps. I wrote to each person and it made me feel so much better, connected with them, and him, expressing deep gratitude. When I finished all the card-senders, I wrote to doctors, funeral homes, colleagues from work, everyone I could think of who loved him and supported me through their expressions of loss and love. I'm grateful that I've always been able to talk about my loss with others. To deny it, to shut it down, would be to deny him. I know we all deal with grief in our own ways. But I would encourage everyone to not worry overmuch about how to address a note. When in doubt, err on the side of being inclusive. It's okay.