Tuesday, March 15, 2011 — A state of disbelief

My heart is breaking as I see images on CNN of Japan in this deadly crisis. In between showing us the most unbelievable pictures of the tsunami surges with all their high powered, unbelievable destruction, the reporter of the moment tells us there is another horrific emergency regarding the events at the six nuclear installations that have been displaying explosions, fires, meltdowns and who know what else.

This morning the Press Democrat had a firstfront page photo of a man responding to a new tsunami warning, carrying his baby daughter who had just been found and rescued. It sounds like facts are not being issued by the nuclear company in charge. American journalists are indulging in rapid fire announcements and questioning about the workers who were until a few minutes ago the only people left at the site of the six reactors. They believe they have

received news that those last 50 workers have now been withdrawn from the scene at the Fukushima Diachi reactor site. As one journalist said from New York, "There's nobody left running the store." They are saying that if this is true, then the whole situation is beginning a new chapter. It is now snowing heavily outside where the journalists are standing and they are showing the inside of one of the many homeless shelters. Some of these people have not had food or water for four days and the weather is freezing. Trying to comprehend the situation outside in all of the coastal cities and towns where the tsunami waves struck, seeing the replays of the moments when it struck and now hearing that the nuclear situation is increasingly dangerous. There still seems to be some question about whether or not those last 50 workers were told to evacuate. It will be part of tomorrow morning's news. I'm not sure how much longer I can stand to watch and listen to this rapid fire acco

unting of horror.

Are there lessons here for the people of the world? Will nuclear energy begin to be discussed in a new way now? I'm hearing a fast moving summary and review of the events from the first moments of the earthquake to the present. This mixture of the events caused by Mother Nature to the effects they have had on man made situations such as placing six different nuclear reactors in one coastal location in close proximity to each other. Wind conditions and the importance of such are now being discussed. I'm beginning to notice some repetition in their presentation of the facts. I think it's time for me to sign off from this display until tomorrow morning.

All day today three of us have been working down at Pacific Textile Arts on the two new (old) buildings that form our little campus. Stefan finished laying the Baltic Birch plywood flooring in the second half of the future libra

ry building. I spent the day filling nail holes and the cracks between boards with wood filler. My knees were killing me when I finally called it a day. Sandra came after lunch and spent the afternoon rolling paint onto the walls of the larger classroom. She finished the job that she and Jacob had begun the day before. Tomorrow Stefan will bring me his sander and I may avoid having to be on the floor on my knees again. until I apply the filler to the second half of the library building floor. This too will pass. We are going to have a lovely little classroom situation when this work is completed. It has been raining like crazy

all day and the courtyard area between the buildings was a lake when I left. Just imagine tomorrow. This rain is expected to continue until at least Sunday. The need for more rock and gravel is becoming increasingly apparent every hour.

I don't intend to stay around until Sunday. I'm going to attend the Tapestry Weavers West meeting in Pacifica on Saturday and then go to Berkeley to hear the Swedish group Vassen at the Freight and Salvage. Lots of music happening in the next week or so in my

world. Jim and Judy Tarbel are hosting a musical event on March 26. Mike, Leah and Julian are coming to Mendocino to perform at a Mendocino Stories event being planned by Patty and Max. It will feature friends reading some of Skip's stories and be finished with a musical set by Mike and group. This will take place at the Mendocino Hotel on the night of April 15, just before I leave for a short visit with Steve, Susan and Mira in Italy. Before that happens, we'll hold our annual "Feather In the Cap" dinner, auction and open house at Pacific Textile Arts on April 2. Please think about joining us for that event. Sound like a lot going on since I returned from Mexico? When I think about it, I begin missing El Tuito.