More melting, so, in theory, March came in like a lamb. (Of course, there already is a lamb around here—the one being nurtured at the Nies household, so March is late to the date.)

Formerly magnificent cottonwood at a park in town.

Little of note to report on, except that we got a trailer hitch installed on the Rav, which gives us the benefit of a solid bike rack and the ability to tow the Whitehall pulling boat when we need to (and schlep all the toys up north).
Meanwhile, I’m continuing my study of native American cultures, and that brought me back to Keith Basso’s great book, Wisdom Sits In Places, which features the Apache way of viewing things. Here is an excerpt:

“Stated in general terms, the Apache theory holds that 'wisdom' is a heightened mental capacity that facilitates the avoidance of harmful events by detecting threatening circumstances when none are apparent. This capacity for prescient thinking is produced and sustained by three mental conditions, described in Apache as smoothness of mind, resilience of mind, and steadiness of mind. Because none of these conditions is given at birth, each must be cultivated in a conscientious manner by acquiring relevant bodies of knowledge and applying them critically to the workings of one's mind.

Like cleared plots of land, smooth minds are unobstructed—uncluttered and unfettered—a quality which permits them to observe and reason with penetrating clarity. Skeptical of outward appearances, smooth minds are able to look through them and beyond them to detect obscured realities and hidden possibilities. Unencumbered by obstacles to insightful thinking, smooth minds “see danger before it happens” and “trouble before it comes.” Thus does wisdom flourish.

Mental smoothness is believed by Apaches to be the product of two subsidiary conditions—mental resilience and mental steadiness.

Resilient minds do not give in to panic or fall prey to spasms of anxiety or succumb to spells of crippling worry. Largely immune to emotional turbulence, they do not become agitated or disoriented.

While resilience of mind contributes to mental smoothness by blunting the effects of external distractions, ‘steadiness of mind’ accomplishes this objective by removing the sources of internal ones.

Steady human minds maintain themselves in a manner that ensures their own stability and reliability. This is achieved by relinquishing all thoughts of personal superiority and by eliminating aggressive feelings toward fellow human beings. As a result, steady minds are unhampered by feelings of arrogance or pride, anger of vindictiveness, jealousy or lust—all of which present serious hindrances to calm and measured thinking. Steady minds “forget about themselves” and conduct their social affairs in harmony and peace.”