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The Daily Bucket - martyc35 has flown [1]
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Date: 2022-08-09
Marty’s favorite bird, her avatar: the Osprey
Sad news for those of us who loved and laughed with martyc35, our fellow longtime Bucketeer.
Marty died peacefully Sunday after a series of health problems, most recently kidney failure. Her son-in-law Monsieur George kosmailed me with the news.
Nestling Violet-Green swallows
Marty led a colorful life over her 87 years, which we heard pieces of in her Bucket comments. She grew up in western Oregon, then moved to California, finally settling in Eureka, a town she enjoyed very much for its mild climate and proximity to the ocean. Marty and I shared a love for the richness of life in tidepools, which she explored in her younger years down in Monterrey Bay, and we exchanged many comments about critters found in tidepools such as seastars, octopuses and brittle stars. We both had Ed Ricketts’ Between Pacific Tides, one of the earliest field guides for marine habitats, first published in 1939 (I have the 4th edition, from 1968). Marty’s intellect was sharp and broad-ranging, right to the end. She had been a college English professor for many years in Sonoma county and she read prodigiously every day, from Vikram Seth to Patrick O’Brian to Proust (she’d report and recommend).
Townsend warbler, painted by Marty’s daughter
When Marty’s health began began to decline a decade or so ago, besides viewing the changing seasons through her window, she turned to internet sources for experiences outside her house. Marty loved music, and watched YouTube videos of performances constantly. Cellists were a favorite. It’s a blessing that her hearing and eyesight remained good right up to her death. Other experiences she enjoyed remotely were travel (such as a YouTube series of walking tours of gardens in Japan), sports (Northern California pro baseball and basketball team games), classical concerts (she followed particular conductors, and got a real kick out of women breaking into that conservative world). Marty also followed wildlife cams all over the world, from osprey nests in Finland to a waterhole in Botswana. She loved nature and wildlife. Her mind was constantly active, and she made interesting wide-ranging comments in response to Bucket topics.
Slug-chewed Amanita in Marty’s backyard
Marty was passionately progressive politically and didn’t shy away from incisive derisive commentary about Republicans (“those bastards”). She joined Daily Kos in the early years, in 2005. Marty had a wry sense of humor. Her brash feistiness might have you surprised to learn she was little old grey-haired lady. A very tough one in many ways, until her body gave out. Thankfully her granddaughter Kate has been living with her for the past several years, so Marty was able to live at home. However this past year she was in and out of the hospital with one crisis after the next. Her organs were failing, and she decided a month ago to stop dialysis, there being no prospect of survival. She wanted to die gracefully, and did, with no fanfare but much wisdom.
Lilac season in Marty’s yard
I will miss her very much. It’s surprising how much we can come to love someone we’ve never actually met in person. But I’ve been conversing with Marty for ten years, sharing comments in Buckets, exchanging notes in kosmails, laughing and finding pleasure in the wonders of nature, music, books, family. She was always very appreciative of everyone hosting Buckets and had something to contribute. You may remember some of her observations. Barely-spotted Towhee? The Steller’s Jay that came back? The crow that moved in to her daughter’s house as an abandoned nestling and then returned for visits after it grew up and rejoined its family? The annual arrival of the Fox sparrows in fall whose foraging in the shrubbery she described so charmingly?
The Daily Bucket is now open for your observations of nature. You are also welcome to share any memories of Marty.
Fly free, Marty.
THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, SOIL, PLANTS, WATERS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS. WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU IN YOUR OWN PART OF THE WORLD, AND TO SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PURPOSE AND HISTORY OF THE DAILY BUCKET FEATURE, CHECK OUT THIS RECENT DIARY: DAILY BUCKET PHENOLOGY: 11 YEARS OF RECORDING EARTH'S VITAL SIGNS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
🌊
Foggy and cooler in the PNW islands today. The low fog layer will burn off soon, with temps forecast for mid 70s later, but currently we’re hearing foghorns. This is the season we in the islands call Faugust. Lots of fledgling activity in my yard, lately many goldfinches joining the crossbills, grosbeaks, House and Purple finches in the staging trees around the feeders and birdbaths. We’re moving into the tail end of this year’s bebe season; youngsters are learning independence.
What’s up in nature in your neighborhood?
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