Autumn's Golden Light

Have you noticed the light? Though our days are now shorter, there is a golden light that drapes over our mountains and valleys during late afternoons and makes individual leaves, single blades of grass, as well as dried out bushes and dead broken branches, glow with beauty. It is like the sun is emptying its goodness upon us. Autumn is truly a special time of year. A gift.

As the nation turns to the celebration of Thanksgiving, holiday tables reflect that light with candles, gleaming silver and crystal, or earthenware accompanied by an array of fall leaves scattered with late summer squash and pumpkins. We squeeze the last bits of warmth from nature into a celebration of harvest with abundance. We express thankfulness for our blessings.

In years past, we spoke of pilgrims and Indians sharing and breaking bread together. Eventually the simplicity of that picture has evolved as a story, not history. The quest for new lands and opportunity from tyranny happened in conflict. Indigenous people lived and took care of this land for centuries before the British ended up in Plymouth.

In an interesting twist, author Steven T. Sorensen has written "The Rivers" where the world (in 2070) is dealing with water, food and power shortages due to a dramatic change in climate. The ice caps are flourishing green while arid lands languish. It rains too much in the Mississippi valleys while rivers in the west go dry. Mexico has literally given away the barren deserts to cartels and gangs. Guns rule streets and highways as southern towns dry up. Las Vegas and Phoenix are mere ghosts. Only the east and west coasts are able to power and sway the thirst of its inhabitants through winds, ocean water and desalination. Survival is a struggle.

Midge Lyn'dee.

I cannot go on with this review without a spoiler. There is still a Homeland Security organization trying to hold things together. There is also a news organization, the Global World News (GWN) that attempts to keep citizens informed as groups grab for power during a vacuum in leadership. One such group is The Fifth Element, building its organization near the San Juan River where it used to flow into the mighty Colorado. Navajo, Apache, Hopi, Mojave and other regional tribes choose to work together not only to reclaim their lands but to restore them. Healing them instead of squeezing them dry. Journalist Victor Sierra-Bravo is sent to record their process and progress. And Victor, the narrator of this story, is a human robot.

Disabled for safety reasons by The Fifth Element, Victor is at great loss when stripped of his ability to report through instant GPS tracking to his bosses. But he can observe and preserve information. He is brought into the group and learns of their passion for becoming once again compatible with mother nature. To live with the land, not deplete the land. While the tribes find their way through new and dangerous territory, Victor faces being more human than robot with his technical abilities limited. It forces him to see current actions in a deeper way.

The "rivers" in the story are really the past and future colliding with humans in the middle. The goal is to redefine their humanity, hoping to restore lands while balancing the demands of a modern world. The wisdom of tradition versus progress. This hits home.

We currently live on a precipice, watching anomalies of weather and humanity all around us. So many changes. But right in our own community we have reminders of the past, a living heritage. The Kawaiisu lived here before us. For years groups of Kawaiisu have selflessly taught about their history, language, skills and love of the land itself. A mural painted in their honor is found on the corner of Green and West F streets. The Kawaiisu generosity has always been humbling. Though their numbers have declined, their gift of knowledge of this land remains. We give thanks from Tehachapi in homes built on properties first held by our Kawaiisu brothers and sisters.

My question this year is, "are we thriving?" Is humanity thriving? What does it mean to thrive in this modern world? Bigger and better things? Money? Power? Perhaps elements most needful for thriving in this day and age start with safety and peace, kindness and compassion. Then add necessities like water, food and clean air. Hopefully we will figure out how to not only preserve our resources but thrive, both body and spirit. In "The Rivers" even Victor found his humanity. And he found love.

Good Books.

Good reading.

*Midge Lyn'dee is a fictional character used for the purpose of entertainment though the reviews are real and sincere.