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Our flight home was as uneventful as the one out, although looking out the plane’s window, I was dismayed to see how much we humans have spread all over the desert. Is it even worth the effort to plant natives when developers just scrape entire areas off to build new homes? It has been ever this, because it’s so much cheaper than clearing individual lots. That’s what they did at the lot for the house my father built in Naples in 1959. That’s what they are still doing now all over Florida, and, I assume, the rest of the country. No different than slash and burn in the Amazon.

When Mary picked us up and when we said goodbye, I realized that as much as I adore our grandchildren, who I have missed is my daughter. I enjoy her company so much. Now Spaulding has taken a job in Utah, so he also will be too far away for a weekend visit. Plus Stephanie has been called back to work in her Lakeland office, which is crazy since her working on the computer from home has been fine for the last 9 months. Some suit needs to see his minions in person. So energy inefficient for her to drive there and back every day. Please, once a week, if that. Just when we are getting comfortable to visit our children, they become more spread out.

I’ll continue to plant natives at my house and encourage everyone to add an oak to their yards, the tree that is being touted as adding the most value to birds. I’ve joined the Windermere Tree Board, with my first meeting today, after the Town Council finally officially appointed me. But my carbon footprint will be big this year as I visit my children by plane and car. 

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