As I crossed the toll bridge to drive to Ft. Pickens, I looked over the edge and was amazed at the absolute frailty. The GPS gives me an update. I need to turn right at Ft. Pickens road. No kidding, I think to myself. I smile with a freedom I don't believe I have ever felt before. Yes, at any moment a tsunami could slap me right off of the bridge, but it wouldn't bet the first time something had gone wrong. Off in the distance, I can see Pensacola N.A.S. It seems so much smaller than the day before when I visited the Museum and got lost trying to get to Ft. Barrancas afterward.
Yesterday, the same GPS told me to make my next legal U turn. I could see the front of the fort, but could not get to it. I made the U turn and a few minutes later, while travelling on the same road, the voice told me to make my next legal U turn. Well, I might have been lost, but I knew that making this circle repeatedly would not get me any closer to my "destination".
Now, as I turn right on Ft. Pickens road, I reach over and turn the GPS off, for the second time in two days. I have seen the map of this area and this road only goes one place. There are no further turns to make. Even I cannot get lost now.
I live in the Oklahoma City metro area. We have a fantastic interstate system and I guess I take it for granted that I can get just about anywhere I need to quickly. As I pay the fee to use Ft. Pickens road, I see a sign that completely baffles me. I have been driving in Florida for a few days now and speed limits are modest. This sign says that due to nesting birds, the speed limit is 20 MPH. For most cars, this does not even require the use of the gas pedal. So I brace myself for a long ride down a relatively short road.
As we get closer to Ft. Pickens, this two lane road is surrounded by beach only, and gets narrower and narrower until there is just feet between the edge of the asphalt and the Gulf of Mexico. It is stunning. This road has only just been reopened. Hurricane Ivan washed out the entire area and it was unsafe for travel. I can see why. It appears that a large wave could do the same. Again I am awestruck by the frailty.
Right now, at this moment, there are thousands and thousands of gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico threatening all life. When I turned the corner on Pensacola Beach one large tourism sign said simply, "The only oil on our beaches is Coppertone." This oil spill threatens the livelyhood of most who live in this area. There is a very large military presence, but it is clear that the local economy relies heavily on tourism and fishing. (OK, and shrimpin', yknow, shrimp gumbo, fried shrimp, broiled shrimp....could not resist...) The sign was not the most politically correct cry for help, but that is exactly what it was. If only we could turn off the GPS that is telling us over and over the incorrect information. If only we could put out signs that say SLOW.
I knew when I drove over the bay bridges that life can be stopped in an instant by earthquake, hurricane, tsunami or just random acts of lunacy. I knew when I drove down Ft. Pickens Road, that the birds were there long before the road and they deserve the protection, but I was still iritated when a golf cart like object drove along with us for a mile or so.
Life is absurd. For all we know, in a couple of weeks, a hurricane will bring all of that oil so far inland that all of the bird sanctuaries will become bird cemetaries, yet the Rangers are doing the best they can to give the birds the best chance they can to survive so that my grandchildren may someday grind their teeth at the prospect of driving so slowly. The newspaper and local news stations are requesting volunteers to come help. The oil is not on the beach yet, but they are training as many people as they can get to show up in how to walk around in oil spill areas, how to rescue the wildlife, and even how to clean up an animal or bird to help them breath until they can get proper medical attention.
Volunteers are showing up. It is what we do. We make the choice to say we will give each other the best chance to survive. It's not just about having the least tern around to look at in a year, it is also about every interconnection that one little bird has in our ecosystem. It eventually leads to my own front door in Oklahoma.
For myself, I am in Oklahoma now, so there is not anything I can do, right? My children participated in the Junior Ranger program while they were in Florida. (I would love to tell you more about it so please ask anytime.) I was absolutely shocked at how easy the questions were and the projects were in their workbook. The were able to complete most without actually going to the parks, because they are things we should still be teaching each other and our children. If you see trash, pick it up. Do not disturb the animals as they will either attack, or your disturbance can disrupt them caring for their young. Don't litter. There were a few other messages, but you get the point.
People bring me reusable bags, which I now appreciate more than ever. One of the little factoids stated that plastic grocery bags look and move like jellyfish in the water. Sea turtles eat the bags and die. I may be in Oklahoma, and you may think it does not matter since there are no sea turtles here, but there are plastic bag manufacturers who are going to keep making them until there are less people using them. I'm one less person.
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