Cup-O’-Succulents & The San Diego Union-Tribune: Perhaps I’m not Tilting at Windmills – Dr. Plastic Picker
 

Cup-O’-Succulents & The San Diego Union-Tribune: Perhaps I’m not Tilting at Windmills

| Posted in Sustainable Life

Propogated succulents that I gave out yesterday. Most repurposed things. The kids loved them.

October 2, 2021

by drplasticpicker

The San Diego Union-Tribune videographer was looking for me. Well, they were actually looking for San Diego Pediatricians for Clean Air. While I’m not SDPCA, and indeed this wonderful thing that has become SDPCA is my brainchild – it really belongs to all of us https://sdpediatriciansforcleanair.com/ . In my heart, I know that. It can’t belong to me, it has to be a group endevaor and no egos/ no show-boating, and that is the only way we grow and we #fightfor1point5 . So when my colleauge asked if I wanted to speak with them or needed to speak with them, I know there is so much to do and we divide and conquer. I told her that I’m good. She speaks for all of us, and just reviewed important developments that the San Diego Union-Tribune may want to know. I know things will go well, and this person in our group is eloquent and passionate and committed to climate and health.

As for me, the San Diego Union-Tribune reaching out to us was a big moment. They reached out to us. They were looking for us. We are boots-on-the-ground doing real climate work. That they want to know more about us, is wonderful.

I made the trashart piece above at the beginning of this journey, and it is my trash art interpretation of Pablo Picasso’s Don Quixote. I still sometimes feel like this is an impossible and made up task – especially when things get difficult. The juvenile salmon are having massive die-offs this year in the Klamath River. The dams are set to be removed soon, but it may not be in enough time to restore these historic salmon runs. I cried. There are dark days ahead for the earth. Am I tilting at windmills? I’ve never truly thought I could pick up all the trash on the beach. This entire journey has been a metaphor. But with these moments of sadness like the Klamath River juvenile salmons, you need hope and I got some yesterday. I felt yesterday a bit less like a errant gallant and more like an effective community leader.

So I won’t be featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune and that is for the best. I have Dr. Plastic Picker and this blog, which has been my joy and pride. It’s me. Just authentically me. If anyone wanted to know who Dr. Plastic Picker was – well then I’d be the first to say, that’s definitely me! But SDPCA, that is a collective coalition of pediatric voices that are working hard together for a shared mission.

Did you see the succulents above? I had been growing these in small pots, some repurposed. I gave them out yesterday and they brought so much happiness to everyone. It’s interesting who took which succulents, because it kind of tells you about folks. Most of them went to dear little patients. I’m not giving all my succulents away, but I have to give in order to have the room in my heart to grow more. And I hope that others will learn that. You have to give. You have to care. And that is what SDPCA has been, giving of this wonderful thing we’ve grown and sharing it and collectively doing it – together.

Bird house at our ranch. Just noticed my brother likely made it. It’s waiting for us. We are headed up to Oreong soon.
Trees up on our Oregon Tree Farm that I’m anxious to go up and visit.
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