As I was walking across a pasture on the farm yesterday afternoon a shadow swooped across the grass. I was in an open field and it was a cloud-free sunny day.
So a shadow was a quiet surprise.
I looked up and, at first, didn't see anything at all. Then I caught sight of a big bird -- a huge bird -- doing what looked like effortless loop-de-loops between the fields and the river.
It was cool to see such a large bird float so far, so quietly, without moving a feather. I recognized the white head -- we have eagles -- that perch on high dead trees along the river's edge, a distinctive giveaway.
Then I saw a little bird -- too far away to make out any identifying characteristics other than 1) much smaller than the eagle and 2) pesky, I mean brave pesky.
When Beth came home later I was telling her about how much I enjoyed seeing the eagle but, also, about the heckling of the little bird. I was surprised it could keep up with the eagle and that it would risk hassling it.
"That bird was probably just protecting its nest," explained Beth.
I thought about that brave little thing putting out so much effort -- out-manned and out-gunned -- to protect its nest. Pretty inspiring.
Spoiler Alert: RECURRING THEME. It is so easy -- against the peace and beauty of Up River -- to be complacent. But the right thing usually isn't the easy thing.
With PCB removal in some sections of the Upper Hudson at less than half of goal I feel a need to keep this issue in front of decision-makers like you Gina. You have the authority to do more than just monitor. Sure, Plan A is cycle through five year Review Periods. But when IT IS KNOWN that specific sub-goals were "way missed," there is nothing that says they can't be addressed now.
Please.