Secrets of the Fridge Door

You can tell a lot about a person from the things they choose to stick to the front of their refrigerator. Hmm, I just noticed that "fridge" has a "d" in it, but "refrigerator" doesn't. As a writer-slash-editor, I'm really into spelling things correctly, but I don't think my kitchen appliances always make that clear, though that's not enough evidence to discard the theory...

What is on my door, you ask?

Elizabeth Warren magnet: "Nevertheless She Persisted," featuring the Statue of Liberty. Liberty has made the news lately as either a symbol beckoning immigrants to come to the land of the free or, in the new right-wing interpretation, a guardian standing just offshore to turn away the invading hordes. Myself, I go with the former interpretation. With the hurtle of daily news, you may have forgotten why Elizabeth was tagged with the "persistent" moniker. I admit I had to look it up to refresh my memory (stuff doesn't stick there as well as it used to). According to Wikipedia,

It became popular in 2017 after the United States Senate voted to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren's objections to confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made this remark in defense of the silencing, during his comments following the vote.

Shame on him. It only increased my admiration for this admirable human of a being.

Gladiator Cycles magnet: I support cycling. I even support clueless cyclists who think they are immune to death. I've been an officer in a local cycling club, toured all over Colorado, Europe, and Hawaii by bicycle, and found it's a great way to stay in shape and even out my anxieties. Since I both ride and drive, I've gone to the trouble of learning the rules of the road, unlike many automobile drivers. Oh, does this sound confrontational? Gosh, pardon me. Years ago, I was badly injured by an SUV turning left in front of me. In just the past week in Boulder county, two cyclists have been nearly killed (one in his own dedicated bike lane!), and two children on bikes have been hit (in crosswalks!) This is where the "Gladiator" moniker comes from. Freedom!

Carrot magnet: In 1980, I completed the training to become a Colorado Extension Agent Master Gardener. I've paid back uncounted volunteer hours helping folks deal with plant problems, especially those new to Colorado's tricky, hot-and-cold semi-arid climate. The emphasis here has been "problems," and I've seen those increasing steadily (could it be due to human-induced pressures, such as drilling and burning off of gases in the Dakotas, I wonder?). Bee populations have been crashing, despite Boulder efforts to cut way back on pesticides. Bees are a precious resource for pollinating the crops we use for food. Flocks of birds that were ubiquitous in the 1970s have gone missing. Three *billion* grassland species birds gone, by latest count. Those problems haven't gone away with the ban on 2-4D, they've gotten worse. Which would be the better incentive for stewardship of the Earth--the carrot or the stick?

Westcliffe magnet: This one's painted onto a piece of elk antler. Sigh. I love the mountains of Colorado, and nowhere is there a grander sight than from the tiny town of Westcliffe in the south-central part of the state. The panorama of the Wet Mountains to the east and the Sangre de Cristo Range to the west is just plain... Plus, Westcliffe is a "Dark Skies" city, so you can see the Milky Way in all its awe-inspiring glory there (and feel how truly insignificant we are). There's an annual summer bluegrass festival in Westcliffe, hosted by the Dry Branch Fire Squad. That's where I first heard the inspiring "Tinderbox" by the Higher Ground Band from New Mexico. Those Hotshot firefighters all put their lives on the line for us. We thank them for their service.

Ayr magnet: Ayr, Scotland, is where my daughter and her husband live. They love it there, with its windy beaches and winding rivers and stone bridges. And they still have birds! Well, yes, they're seagulls, but my how they give you a rush for a french fry. In the nearby town of Alloway, where the great poet Robert Burns was born, you can see the bridge over the River Doon (Brigadoon, yes?), where Tam O'Shanter barely escaped the pursuing witches in a breathless chase. His poor horse Meg lost her tail, unfortunately. Oh, yeah, there are castles and stuff too.

Recycle magnet: That reminder goes up the day before our weekly trash pickup. As the world's young people march to encourage more action on climate change and earth stewardship, it's time to brush up on what's worth recycling these days: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/09/20/how-to-recycle-plastic