Footnotes to a Conversation, March 18, 2024

“The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.” — Tahereh Maf

Gentle Chaos

An article I was reading referenced a gardening book entitled A Gentle Plea for Chaos. The words ‘gentle’ and ‘chaos’ leapt off the page for me. I remind myself frequently that it’s impossible to control every aspect of one’s life. What if instead I welcomed gentle chaos into my life? I’m going to give it a try this week.

To Dream, Perchance to Play

Why do we dream? Researchers have come up with various different theories. We could be replaying or reactivating recent memories. Or perhaps it’s a chance to rehearse what we’d do if threatened or to prepare for the unexpected. “Perhaps some dreams are not rehearsals. Perhaps they are the products of a mind released from the constraints of reality and so able to freely explore and imagine … In dreams we are attracted to abstractions, to novelty and hyperassociativity We are, one might say, more playful.”

Kely Bulkeley believes “dreaming is play enacted within the mind and freed of the body, and so freed of the body’s needs and limitations. A compelling view to be sure. If dreaming is disembodied play, then perhaps play is embodied dreaming. If in dreaming we are playing without our bodies, then perhaps in playing we are using our bodies to dream.” [Undark]

The Science of Air Travel

Did you know that airplane toilets are Teflon-coated and are flushed using air pressure, similar to a vacuum? The airline crew won’t start heating your dinner (40 or 50 at a time) until the plane is in the air because it needs all the power it can get to become airborne. For curious minds that want to know . . . . You’ll also learn about air filtration, satellite-based wifi, and whether or not it’s safe to drink the water. [CNN Travel]

Photo: A field full of blue camas in Victoria

Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.

If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.