Isn't it pretty? His work is amazing, artistic, and worth it. Check him out if you are looking for a new bike frame.
Mostly the rain doesn't bother me. I hate how it amplifies the sounds of cars and trucks, but really it keeps things in perspective. It brings you back to the feeling that you are a part of an ecosystem. This rain is going places, making things grow, washing away into the Chicago river and down to the Gulf of Mexico. I won't be drinking any of it unless it happens to fall into Lake Michigan. And here's where I become the lucky one. By and large, our water source here in Chicago is secure. We aren't monitored, rationed or desperately building dams to send the water thousands of miles to our homesteads. It's cushy. Comfortable.
It takes days like today: World Water Day, to remind me how supremely lucky we are here in the Midwest. About 5 years ago I attended my first documentary screening that hammered home the issues we all hear about: disease, starvation, drought. As the saying goes - if you aren't angry, you aren't paying attention.
I could easily keep going on about the importance of clean, accessible water sources in troubled areas around the globe - but we've all heard it. I hope this reminds you to shut off the faucet while brushing your teeth, to install $6 aerators to the faucets in your homes, or make a small donation today. You can find out ways to build on this at the official site: http://www.worldwaterday.org/ (also the up to date tweets are blindingly hilarious and ignorant at the same time.)
So - ending in a happy note. I'm going to reflect on happy water usage. The first is how water helped to bring about my salad last night. My salad greens came from Living Water Farms - grown by aquaponics (a hot topic here in Chicago lately, because raising Tilapia isn't an easy permit to get.) I added microarugula - which tastes almost like wasabi in its infancy, and pea shoots. Both from The Gary Comer Youth Center Rooftop Gardens:
Without water, these greens never would have made their way to the Chicago Farmstand, or to my plate. And the funds would not have been given to the GCYC or to the family operating Living Water Farms. It really is liquid money. A commodity to be appreciated.
And speaking of appreciation:
Via Science Friday (if you don't know, now you know - they are awesome), this lovely video that shows artist Shinichi Maruyama creating his temporary sculptures of water. I think it's a lovely way to round out World Water Day. Enjoy.
Water Sculpture from Shinichi Maruyama on Vimeo.
Wishing you thirsts quenched and no more taking anything for granted...
Love love love,
K.
