Company

Jared's parents and brother just went home. The house feels so empty without them. We had a lot of fun while they were here. We did a few of the tourist things, but really only went downtown once. We did go to the raptor center. I guess that is a tourist thing, but it is a lot of fun. Heidi walked all over (holding my hands), but had no idea what we were looking at. There was a big owl less than 2 feet away and she didn't even notice. It was kind of funny. I guess it is too early to take her to the zoo. :)

We were able to go on a hike one day. Heidi was so excited to go, but fell asleep half-way. She woke up before we were done. She hates napping, she thinks she will miss something. At least she stays happy, even when tired.

Ryan spent his vacation trying to teach Heidi to walk. He came so close. She walks hanging on to just one hand now and we have seen her take one or two steps on her own, but she has a ways to go before she is running. I am glad, she is already getting into everything she can get her hands on and stretching to get things I thought were out of reach.

I was reading the new National Geographic the other day. It had an interesting article on the Jamestown colonists. They brought earthworms with them on accident. How strange...the earthworms, the bees, and of course disease were not native to the area. The article doesn't make a whole lot of claims, just points out that the settlers set about creating their old world again instead of learning to live in the new one. The gradual change to the soil by the earthworms and the proliferation of plants by the bees helped destroy the Native way of life as much as the malaria and guns. That and the settlers just kind of took what they wanted with out really thinking. Looking back it is easy to judge, but I wonder if we still do it, 100 years from now, will people look at places like southeast Alaska and be appaled at the destruction we have caused? Where is the balance?