Have you watched..? The Dust Bowl by Ken Burns

The Dust Bowl chronicles the worst man-made ecological disaster in American history, in which the frenzied wheat boom of the Great Plow-Up, followed by a decade-long drought during the 1930s nearly swept away the breadbasket of the nation.

My Friends, watch this documentary if you can. Honestly, you will be fascinated. My mother, Trixie Travis Brown, is interviewed as a survivor of the great migration west. I had no idea what my grandparents had been through before viewing this and I imagine you don’t know this story either. Though this is my family history it is also America’s history and you will be captivated! Ken Burns is a great storyteller and even though this is my family story, you will see yourself in here. And the rest of America too.

My perspective: We cannot afford to disrespect nature even if we don’t understand it. Every time we do ignore nature, there is a backlash. Americans are suffering through hurricanes, floods, tornados, and other extreme weather conditions because we have disregarded the needs of Mother Gaia. We don’t have that luxury anymore. We need to make peace with nature.

I am remembering too, that the earth recovered but it did take years and a huge change in how we humans behave.

My family at the premiere of the Dust Bowl in San Francisco. My Mom and Dad, my brother, my nephew, my husband and our daughters all gathered to celebrate with Ken Burns. It was an amazing evening for all of us.