NORTON

what I was laughing about.

When it comes to people watching, I have several other scenarios that always bring a smile to my face and warm my heart; watching parents being really attentive to their children instead of being buried in their phone, couples holding hands as they sit or walk together, strangers stepping up to help another traveler should they have dropped something or needed help in some other way, my fellow travelers greeting each other, the airline sta and ight crew with the courtesy they deserve, and so many other acts of being the light, love and kindness in this world.

Being on the receiving end of someone showing up for me as the light and love in my life feels so awesome. It doesn’t matter if it’s a family member, friend, co-worker, or perfect stranger, all that matters is that I am open to seeing it, hearing it, or experiencing it, and allowing that light and love to move inside of me. Receiving the light and love is one thing, but do we recognize our obligation to be the their special “piece of the wild.”

A naturalist keeps a journal as well as lists of sightings, is trained to observe the layers of life that happen in a meadow or wooded area and has a gift for taking a reader with her as she walks, looks and listens — during most waking hours. What do those birds eat? How soon are the babies ready to head out on their own? “Get a job, son,” Young imagines an adult bird messaging after delivering a green, juicy grasshopper to his edgling, which almost immediately is giving the “feed me” signal again. Gentle humor often ts into her observations as she records the day’s happenings. She had planned to base this book on a nature journal they had kept since buying the land near Trinidad in 1995 in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo range in the southern Rocky Mountains. “Our experiences keeping a trail of bluebird nest boxes would be the centerpiece, a way to reveal the joys and spiritual renewal we found in nature from intimately watching one piece of land over many seasons and many years.

“Over time though, my sweet and simple story grew more serious ...”

She continues in her opening comments: “ is book is the story of past bluebird seasons. e tale of future seasons waits to be written. e thing about seasons is that their ultimate dynamic is change — birth, growth, death and renewal. ere are a variety of possible endings to the story, different paths we as a global village can choose to take. We can keep the light and love for others, even when we don’t know that we are actually doing it? ink of the last time you were out to dinner with your spouse or friend, and you were having such a great time eating, drinking and sharing stories. You were probably smiling, laughing and having such a good time that you didn’t realize the impact you were having on others who probably wished they were sitting with you. ere could have been a di erent couple in that same pub or restaurant going through a di cult time, and just because your positive light, love and energy were so contagious, pretty soon they too forgot their woes and began a new and loving conversation.

Is it our responsibility to be the light and love for others? Maybe it depends on who we ask. My answer is yes, because I believe we are called to be both light and love in this world. e world can seem very dark right now, but just remember that there is no such thing as darkness, there is only an absence of light. So let’s bring it.

Do you enjoy being around people who make you happier just by being in their presence? Does your heart come alive when you see or experience moments of love seasons turning past loss to renewal.

“In that lies our hope.”

And that gets us to page 12! e reader will clearly want to explore both the journaling about all that occurs on this lovely bit of land and the great variety of wildlife.

“Over the last 25 years, Rick and I began to ask each other: `When did we last see a ( ll in the blank?)’” at feeling was strengthened when they sighted a pair of Western tanagers busy in the big pines down by the old campsite. ( e Youngs camped on their land until they chose a cabin site and built it with help from friends.)

One evening, the Youngs were out for a walk, with Rick carrying a 2-year-old Olivia, when they heard a sound that was new ... a series of short whistles, “round and airy like the notes of a ut e...” e next night, they go out again ...

“I think I know now who calls,” Mary writes. “If only I’m right! We humans may be largely blind in the dark, but this night piper is not and certainly knows we are here. Slowly, setting each foot gently, we step closer. We pause, but there is no rush of wings, no sudden departure of bird from pinon.

“We ick on our ashlights, move the beams slowly to scan the pinon. Perched on a horizontal branch is a wonderful sight — a collection of gures perhaps seven inches tall, each about the size and shape of a small sack of our. e disk of feathers around each face gives their heads an oversized outline and above their and light happening around you? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can enjoy the light and love of others and be the light and love for those who need it, it really will be a better than good life. large eyes a smear of white gleams in the light. Saw-whet owl edglings, about to launch out on the hunt!” Like a set of sextuplets on their rst day of preschool. Taylor observes. Can’t help but smile happily at the sketch below this account.

A really appealing new book for this armchair birder.

A charming drawing lls the bottom third of the page. Delightful moment!

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Pools around the metro area are gearing up to open for the summer. That is, if there are enough lifeguards.

The years-long trend where pools have cut hours or closed altogether appears to be waning, though it’s still a possibility in some places, according to aquatics managers across the Denver area, who are more optimistic than in past years, but still concerned as summer nears.

For instance, South Suburban Parks and Recreation needs 250 lifeguards for its peak summer season but has only 183 ready to go.

Karl Brehm, the recreation dis- trict’s aquatics manager, hopes to get closer to the goal as summer approaches but wonders why applications are so slow to roll in.

“I have seen, more and more, less interest in the position,” Brehm said.

He’s been in the business for a long time. Brehm worked at Elitch Gardens for five seasons and the Highlands Ranch Community Association for 16 years. He said he’s seen a general lack of interest, generationally, from young people who want to do the job. Fewer people are becoming CPR certified as well, he added.

“I’ve often wondered why we were having those issues,” Brehm said. “Back in the day, I remember if you didn’t have your job by spring break, you weren’t getting a summer job.”

The problem could affect South Suburban pools across the district, which serves more than 150,000 residents in Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Littleton, Sheridan, Lone Tree and parts of Centennial and Douglas, Jefferson and Arapahoe counties.

If he can’t hire enough lifeguards, hours at pools could be cut, Brehm said. It’s not for a lack of trying, though. The district has introduced incentives, bonuses, pay bumps and more in hopes of luring in more lifeguards.

South Suburban isn’t alone.

There’s a national lifeguard shortage, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. Lifeguard shortages affected roughly a third of public pools throughout the country.

In response last year, Gov. Jared Polis announced a “Pools Special Initiative 2022,” in which Colorado introduced incentives. Chief among them was a $1,000 payment to those who completed lifeguard training to fight pool postponements and decreasing operating hours.

Now, out of necessity, hiring lifeguards is ongoing throughout the entire summer season, Brehm said. Lifeguards for South Suburban make between $15 and $19.14 per hour, per South Suburban’s website. A head lifeguard makes $15.75 - $19.93 per hour.

But there are additional costs to South Suburban. Though life-