December 2004 | From the Editor
Lighten Up
Five years ago when my family moved into our current home, a giant tree in the front yard stood luxuriant and green. This 60-foot tree — close to 100 years old — appeared magnificent and flourishing... until we looked closely. Some misguided former resident of our ‘50s era house had planted a particularly aggressive vine at the base of the tree, and over decades it had grown up the tree and back down again in dense, green masses. The vine was suffocating its host.
We began slashing the vine’s three to four-inch wide main arteries encircling the tree — severing its connections to soil and water and unearthing its well-entrenched roots. This task took two determined gardeners many weekend hours over an entire year. And although we were successful in extricating the roots, the dying vine clung tenaciously, continuing to strangle the tree’s growth even after its own life had been choked off.
In the last big bout of Santa Ana winds, one of the tree’s top branches, weighted with vine detritus, snapped off and plummeted to the earth, fortunately not causing any damage. But the incident made me realize that it was time to call the trimmers and lighten the tree’s load.
The tree looks forlorn and denuded now, but I know it will be smiling a happy tree smile in the spring when it can finally stretch its cramped limbs and sprout thousands of new leaves.
Like most of you, I am moving through the stages of grief following the November election. It breaks my heart and confuses me mightily to see our voice in the legislative branch of government further weakened over the next two years. We’ve lost seats in both House and Senate and yes, like it or not, we’ve lightened up. Our challenge is to use this turn of events to generate new life.
I don’t see anybody throwing up hands and giving up. In fact, just this past weekend, 50 people gathered to talk about mobilizing local LOHAS businesses — a movement that has been several years in the talking stage. Ideas were flying fast and furious; it was clear that people’s excitement has been kindled rather than extinguished. Although the group has yet to formalize its mission, the key words were sustainability and support.
And there’s more. WLT’s e-mail is jam-packed with all sorts of invitations, and our calendar is full. People are taking action and reaching out to the community, so I hope you’ll join in.
One way to help us guide the magazine in the coming year is to complete our reader survey at www.wholelifetimes.com. Are we going in the right direction? How can we be more helpful? Are you happy or fed up with politics in our pages? What would you like to see more of? Do you use our calendar? We really value your thoughts.
Of course, supporting our advertisers is a big help to us, too. The more business we bring them, the more they realize the benefits of advertising with us. When we have more ads, we are able to bring you more great stories and information in every issue.
Michael Moore, bless his heart, gave us 17 reasons not to slit our wrists after 11/2 (which, as of this writing, are still posted on his website, www.michaelmoore.com). I’m going to take it a step further and offer you five reasons to celebrate.
1. We live in progressive California.
2. We reelected the most progressive Senator in Washington, Barbara Boxer.
3. We’re moving forward with stem cell research which will make California a technological leader and bring new business and revenue to our state.
4. We have not lost momentum. All the energy that brought us within a couple of percentage points of winning the White House is continuing to bring us together.
5. The sun is out, the birds are singing and it’s not snowing.
Happy holidays to all of you. You are our gift this season.
From my heart, Abigail
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