Advice from the Spider Grandmother

Sometimes you have to read an entire book just to pry out one nugget worth remembering (the book I'm still reading isn't one of them). Reading a conversation with a Hopi studying medicine in Nevada, I learned this:

The Spider Grandmother gave two rules, to all men, not just Hopis: She said, "Don't go around hurting each other," and she said, "Try to understand things."

If you think these rules have nothing to do with real estate in Bainbridge Island, I think you're wrong.

Cabin Fever

After a week of heavy snow and a power outage, I found myself with a case of cabin fever. To fight it, I'm re-reading Blue Highways--for the fourth time. In its context I understand again the wisdom of my community to continue its fight against allowing Bainbridge Island to give into America's drive toward building the longest strip mall in the world.

The world Heat Moon discovered in the seventies as he drove his old Ford Econoline around the back roads of America is probably gone by now. They exist now only in the pages of this wonderful account. I recommend it to you. I wish every American who can read would read it.