Crystal Gail Welcome

Gaw-lee, lookatat worter (Gollie, look at that water) The deep streams of the  Calcasieu Rivah are restrained by bayous with their enormous Cyprus trees, moss, shell reefs, and its lakes which envelope by impassable marshes. I was born in Calcasieu Parish nestled upon the banks of The Calcasieu Rivah. Which gathers its strengths from the powerful Mississippi RIvah.  Gaw-lee, lookatat worter   My mom’s amniotic sac burst, rippled in waves just like the Calcasieu Rivah, and she gave birth to me. Long before that, the mighty Mississippi gave birth to the Atchafalaya Rivah. When I was a kid, we’d drive across it …

At times, I write for a mainstream hiker blog. Which sometimes means having words poked and pecked, sometimes rejected or devoid of historical context. The post below has sat in review with no response. During which time, Rue had a run-in with law enforcement officials; however, his encounter doesn’t undermine this post. While an unfortunate experience, Rue is alive and able to continue his journey as a freeman. I wish him the best and hope that he can complete his project without any complications. Rue Mckenrick is unlike any distance backpacker I’ve ever met. As The creator of the American …

rose·​bush | \ ˈrōz-ˌbu̇sh a shrub that produces roses I grew in a two bedroom townhouse on a street named Sunrise. Below the bedroom window facing the street, a rose bush grew. I didn’t care much for those roses.  I hated the strong protruding thorns that met my flesh anytime I got too close. The smell of roses didn’t conjure imagery of grandeur. Rather the smell of sweat — from a hardworking man laboring to feed four children. Reminders of hungry nights and the absence of a progenitor. No, I was not fond of roses.  As an adult, my distaste …

im·bal·ance/imˈbaləns/ noun lack of proportion or relation between corresponding things An ecological imbalance is a natural or human disturbance that disrupts the natural balance of an ecosystem. Following a disruption, the environment can restore to a balanced state. However, in the case of severe disorder or continuous disturbance, the ecological equilibrium will never recover. As a living species, humans play an essential part in maintaining an ecological balance. If one species is off-balance, the entire ecosystem is imbalanced. Unrest is convulsively fanning the US, following the death of George Floyd, a Black man slain by Minneapolis police officers, contributing to …

dis·​en·​gage \ dis-in-ˈgāj \ disengaged; disengaging; disengages transitive verb : to release from something that engages or involves intransitive verb : to release or detach oneself There is a phenomenon unfolding, an awakening, a revolution. However, arousal for some white people is an opportunity for a lot of Blacks to disengage. Know that anger and rage cannot be suppressed indefinitely. Mainstream media, major corporations, grocery store clerks, and neighbors who have seen our Black faces for years, are suddenly touting Black Lives Matter and expressing the desire to have an open dialogue about what change looks like. Consider that rather …