Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

A rare personal appearance

Your blogger, ready to shovel some surge deposits from Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6, standing on, and in front of — basically in — the greatest city on Planet Earth, with props to London, Paris, and poor old Hoboken underwater across the harbor. Photo by Nate Arnzen.

Many dozens of other volunteers were here as well, as well as many other places in the city and in the larger — so large — Sandy-sided region, where utility, transit, and emergency/public safety employees are doing the real heroic work of the hour. I salute them, and the America they represent.

mthew

,

4 responses to “A rare personal appearance”

  1. alphonsegaston

    And thank you for your service!

    I sent your photo of the rainbow and the Statue of Liberty to some friends, who responded with compliments. Of course, I did not point out to them that the rainbow is a sign that Obama will win–tactful, that. Back in 1992 as my husband and I were leaving Chicago on a stormy early November day, we saw a rainbow over Lake Michigan along Lakeshore Drive. I commented that this was a sign that Clinton would win, and he did. So this has a very scientific basis–forget the polls.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Two out of two! Let’s hope.

      Reply
  2. Katie (Nature ID)

    I’m glad you’re okay, Matthew. Thanks for keeping us updated and providing a personal glimpse separate from the 24 hour news coverage of what going on over there. Stay safe!

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Thanks, Katie! Did some clean-up work in Prospect Park today, and there were 170 of us. Tremendous number of volunteers here, although there are not always places for them to go and do stuff. Most places needing volunteers their rosters already filled; I’ve been crashing events, hoping an extra pair of hands won’t hurt.

      Reply

Leave a comment