It's The End Of The World As We Know It

I just got home from seeing my Dad.  Just walked in and am bursting at the seams about how the world is ending.  And I will get to that, but first a Keith update because I know everyone's first question is "how's your Dad?" To be honest, I have been struggling lately when asked this.  Not because I am unappreciative of how much you care about him and me and us, but because I don't know of any words to answer in a way that is honest but concise and/or appropriate for social situations.  Usually when people ask how others are we say "fine" or "well" or "doing o.k." and I could say that about my Dad but we would both know that it isn't really true or at least complete.

Sometimes I resort to saying things like "he's hanging in there" or "today is an o.k. day", but that doesn't seem right either, because it minimizes how amazing he is despite the fact that his health is not-amazing.  Today when I was driving home, I was looking at the Fall colors in the vineyards and I realized that I have found the perfect term for how my dad is....he's brilliant. He is transitioning through this like a tree who, given the choice of doing nothing or putting on a beautiful show come the Fall of its life, has chosen the latter.  Despite the hand he has been dealt, he is still generous and kind.  He is still really, really funny and witty.  He is thoughtful and patient and honest.  If he were a tree, he would be the one you would want to stop the car for.  The one in the grove that really is going all out, with reds and oranges and golds; full of fire and life, taking its time to be present through this experience.  He eats ice cream every day.  He voted.  He is a badass and he is brilliant.  So that is how I intend to answer from now on.  My Dad is brilliant.

That said, despite my Dad's brilliance and my wonderful visit....the world is still ending and I am bereft.  Here is why.  There was smog.  I went home to the Northern California, San Francisico Bay Area suburb, where I have existed in some form for 40 plus years now and there was so much SMOG, I could not see my mountain (Mt. Diablo).  What.  The.  Fuck. I grew up at the base of that mountain! There was never any smog! Fog...there was fog sometimes.....and snow.....snow was always a treat.  But dirty air that affected visibility? First time in 40 years.  I mean, I am not an idiot so I am aware that climate change exists and is affecting things, (because, despite the notions of some recently elected congress-people, IT IS NOT A DEBATABLE TOPIC), but to see it first hand, AROUND MY MOUNTAIN.  I am really devastated.  And scared.  Smog is what separates us from the Los Angelians.  Smog exists in industrial areas.  Smog is dirty air.  Dirty air exists where there is no rain.  Where there are too many people.  Where there are too many cars.....where there is not enough cool ocean air to pass over and clean out pollution......Oh My God.  That's the new reality of my home-base.  The environment has changed, so it has changed.  This is really happening.  I mean probably not at the "I should probably buy an oxygen mask and stock up on a supply of tanks" rate that I have gone to in my head, but enough to spur some thought and a blog and a question:

What are you doing in your every day practice to slow down the end of the world?  Do you have any tips? And? Can you help me fix my mountain?

Cue REM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY