we see you
@wojcik
We, as in we humans, constantly perceive our world only from our egocentric perspective–as if we’re the only observers in town. We’re not. Ever get the feeling you’re being watched in the most unlikely places? By unlikely I mean places lacking other humans. Just because there aren’t others of our own kind in our company does not mean that we don’t have ‘company.’ The entire natural world is watching us. These days I suspect it’s watching done on HIGH ALERT due to all our inconsiderate actions over the long-term. Seriously, the next time you are out clicking away with your camera at everything that stays long enough in the viewfinder–take a deep breath, relax and take a good look at the trees, butterflies, birds and bugs in front of you. Consider what they see as we stare at them for a moment before clicking and running off to the next attraction like manic visual addicts scrambling for another fix. All living things breath in their own manners. Why wouldn’t they observe us as part of their world? We are biological organisms roaming around a biological habitat. Yes, we have a LOT of company on this earth. Other living things may not ‘see’ us as we see them–and that’s been good for our survival. We haven’t been so good for the lives of other creatures though. We tend to spread like parasites, perpetually voracious ones consuming every thing in our reach. Some times I think that all the other living things will turn the tables on us and treat us in kind until we are extinct. Other times I suspect that they’re just waiting for us to finish ourselves off–which we do seem to be doing quite nicely–if not fast enough for the comfort of the likes of the trees in my photograph. Ever wonder if they’re thinking, “Hurry up and be done with your own destruction so the rest of us can have some peace from the likes of you?” I certainly wouldn’t blame them one whit for such wishes. Everywhere I venture I take note of the continuing urban sprawling into the habitats of other living creatures. We destroy the homes of geese, ducks, snakes, deer, foxes, shrews, fish and everyone else while leaving behind our discarded spaces of crumbling concrete and asphalt. Will we not stop until nothing else has a place to live? Face it, we humans are the most awful invasive species/neighbors ever. Perhaps our superiority complex will be the death of us. I suspect the trees are hoping it’s sooner rather than later. Seriously–put yourself in their bark and check out the view.
om mani padme hum jewel in the lotus wahupa qi prana universal life energy
47whitebuffalo's Blog 
echostains said,
October 2, 2010 at 1:51 pm
I’ve not talked to a tree for ages (perhaps I should) trees certainly have their own personalities – you can feel it. If you are very quiet and listen they WILL communicate with you.
47whitebuffalo said,
October 2, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Yes, you should ‘talk’ with some trees if you haven’t in ages. Hi. If we listen everything will communicate.
artistatexit0 said,
October 1, 2010 at 1:48 am
The bird was a Blue-headed Vireo formerly called the Solitary Vireo. Your comment is interesting because the prevailing theory is that the long lost dinosaurs may have evolved into birds. What if the birds, assuming that they survive the next great extinction, take the next step and occupy our niche?
47whitebuffalo said,
October 1, 2010 at 5:05 pm
IF they do–I hope they make a better run of it than we have!
artistatexit0 said,
September 29, 2010 at 11:25 pm
I had that distinct feeling I was being watched recently. When I found the source, it turned out to be this bird and our eyes locked upon one another. I thought I could feel its heart beating very fast through our joined gaze. I blinked and it was gone.
Nature isn’t going to miss us…it treats everything with mutual disinterest. There have been too many other extinction episodes in the past and no matter how bad they are…nature finds a way to repopulate all the niches by developing whatever is left. Nice post Eva.
47whitebuffalo said,
September 30, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Hey Al. Did you know what kind of bird in your close encounter? Nature maybe already planing what’s next once we’re gone. Frankly, who could blame it?
bendedspoon said,
September 28, 2010 at 11:23 pm
so good, so true
it gives me creeps
not that we are watched, with hatred perhaps
but how insensitive humans are
and how arrogant to see us as the superior ones
when we couldn’t exist without them
and they could, without us.
🙂
47whitebuffalo said,
September 29, 2010 at 1:13 am
Welcome Bendedspoon! You make a very good observation–we can’t exist without trees–but they definitely can exist without US. Bears thinking about further.
clegyrboia said,
September 29, 2010 at 4:35 pm
i so much agree with you specially the lines: “how arrogant to see us as the superior ones, when we could not exist without them, and they can without us”
lesliepaints said,
September 28, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Cool post, Eva. We are wasteful and thoughtless in our invasion of open spaces and I believe that is why we have had to set aside areas such as State and National parks. This recession has caused many buildings to become vacant. I wonder, as I see them, how soon any of them will ever be used again. Deserted shopping malls and HOMES! So many vacant! All of this was, at one time, “their” domain. We use and walk away from……. They watch us, for sure.
47whitebuffalo said,
September 29, 2010 at 1:15 am
Hey Painting Lady. Apparently you’re seeing the same things I do. That’s rather scary–you’re there and I’m here–and these are not the same places. Now–perhaps the upside is that WE are on the same page. Hmm. Now how can we turn this to an advantage?
Meg said,
September 28, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Well said Eva. 🙂
47whitebuffalo said,
September 29, 2010 at 1:16 am
Meri, Meg. It’s been on my mind for a while. The Trees brought it all together.
clegyrboia said,
September 28, 2010 at 8:08 pm
sometimes the tree might look at us in a different way when we plant its roots in the soil
from time to time i look at a tree wondering who did plant it knowing that it is not always a human
47whitebuffalo said,
September 29, 2010 at 1:20 am
I think you’re right, clegyrboia. This spring I planted a lot of little peach trees that had been rootballed in plastic bags for a long time. Each time I unwrapped one both I and the tree breathed easier–so it seemed.
And yes, all sorts of non-humans plant trees–makes me think of all the squirrel caches of nuts/tree seeds everywhere. And oh all the other possibilities—the wind!
Welcome. Thank you for bringing your heather trace here.
throughstones said,
September 28, 2010 at 7:55 pm
lovely – thanks. I am always a little wary of admitting to a two-way communication with trees (self-protection). Now I will be a little bit braver!
47whitebuffalo said,
September 29, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Hi throughstones–it might be prudent to be braver with caution. Know your ‘audience’. Grins and blue waves to you.