Steve and Judy's Travels!

She was 15.  Judy’s older sister, Sue.

In their family, Sue filled the role of parent, so when I picked up Judy to go out on a date, we sat at their dining room table with Susie while she set the rules.  We acknowledged even then, with a smile, that it was a little odd having someone younger than me being the parent, but the rules weren’t too tough.  Home at a decent time and don’t get in any trouble.  We never did.

Judy and Susie were so close.  As children, they protected and comforted each other, as much as they could, through some difficult times.  And all of our adult lives, the three of us, Sue, Judy, and me, were good friends.  We enjoyed, respected, and supported each other.

Sue passed away peacefully in her sleep today.  It was a several-year fade as her memory left her.  Another contemporary we love and will miss.

The Great Backyard Bird Count.  (The backyard now being every place on the planet.)

8,257 species reported.  That’s out of about 10,000 known species.  Pretty good percentage for a four-day effort.

e World Once Again Showed-up for the Birds…and Each other.

A World United by Birds is a Wonder Worth Celebrating 🎉Wow! What a spectacular year for the Great Backyard Bird Count. People were out in every corner of the world watching, listening, photographing, recording, and enjoying birds. Thank you for being a part of another record breaking year. Here is a quick snapshot of results:8,257 species of birds identified216 countries or eBird subregions467,696 eBird checklists1,239,329 Saved Merlin Bird IDs (step-by-step, sound, or photo)246,225 photos, videos, and sounds added to Macaulay Library1,146,284 estimated global participants435 reported community eventsDive deeper into our final results and feel pride knowing you were a part of greatness. In gratitude,The GBBC Team “Dive In” to GBBC 2026 Final Results This is one of many incredible captures from GBBC 2026. This Red-breasted Merganser is also diving in and Holden Van Dyke / Macaulay Library, was able to snap a spectacular shot! To see more beautiful bird photos, see our collection from GBBC 2026.Black-capped Chickadee on the roof. Photo by Janet Pawlowski / GBBC Participant.Congratulations Binocular winner!Our proud winner enjoyed seeing Black-capped Chickadees visiting her home and feeders during the GBBC weekend. We appreciate being able to share in the joy of observing birds with people all over the world. Next year is our 30th Year for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Mark your calendars, February 12-15, 2027.The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. You received this email because you are subscribed to Lab Project Participation, Discounts, and Promotions from Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.,  Ithaca,NY,14850,Unsubscribe or Manage Email Preferences

I was having a conversation with a person on the phone and needed to upload a document to her while we were talking.  I had already previously uploaded several.  At the conclusion, she apologized for my having to go through that.

Problem?  Uploading documents?

“Well,” she answered, “people… (slight pause) of your generation sometimes have trouble with computers.”  She never called me old.  She didn’t use terms like elderly, senior, or geriatric; she just politely referred to “my generation.”  I thought that was sweet.

…about prison inmates.  …and babies.

Prison inmates; the worst of the worst, right?  They’ve all done bad things, some of them terrible, unthinkable things.  That’s who I’m thinking about, the incorrigible that have to be locked away.  How did they get like that?

We all started out as babies, the most innocent of innocents.  We’re not born with evil stares and bad intent.  We’re born helpless and dependent, with giggles and smiles as we stumble about.  Everybody starts out like that.  How do some of us get from giggles and smiles and innocence to doing terrible things?

Sure, nature versus nurture, but is that all there is?  And none of us are just one thing.  We’re not entirely the worst thing we’ve ever done, nor the best.  But these complicated human beings.  We all turn out so different, and maybe we all, no matter how we turn out, wonder why everyone else is so different.