Yesterday, my mind was exposed to at least two references to a World War II bomb shelter. The first was in a book I am reading and the second was in a movie we watched last night. I am quite certain they are what triggered a dream I awoke to sometime during the night which included a WWII bomb shelter.
The dream was strange because it began with some type of museum tour of an ancient building complex that was little more than foundations. It was laid out in a circular pattern somewhat like ancient pueblo dwellings (which I also saw a photo of yesterday). I was following a tour guide through the ruins as the trail wound around a bowl-shaped structure and began to descend underground. There was no one else to be seen anywhere among the ruins.
As we proceeded to enter an underground area there were a few people scattered about looking at the exhibits which were much more modern than I had anticipated. It was fairly roomy inside the structure as the pathway continued forward.
We then descended additional steps into a cramped room filled with people in which there was an additional trap door leading into an even deeper room. The guide was explaining that it was a WWII bomb shelter that had been constructed beneath the ruins.
It was at that moment my claustrophobia kicked in and I headed back out as quickly as possible.
Tight spaces don't bother me too much unless there are lots of people. I have always wondered why that is the case. It happens sometimes in a crowded room. I think it is more about being too closely surrounded by people than walls, but the combination of the two is difficult for me to handle. I don't like the feeling of being trapped. I need a clear "flight path." Maybe it is simply survival instinct.
I think all of us have phobias of one kind or, another. Some people fear snakes, or rodents, or certain types of insects. Many have a fear of spiders. Such fears intrigue me. What is it that makes us focus our fears on very specific things? Is it an experience sometime in the murky past? I suspect that is often the case, but don't know.
In spite of the "fear trigger" in my dream, I found it interesting. I often think preparedness in the form of some type of emergency shelter is wise. With the strange things going on in Washington and other places across our country I wonder sometimes if we all should construct a place of safety -- of refuge -- against the potential storms which might be unleashed in the form of political turmoil.
A physical refuge is great, but ultimately we need a spiritual refuge. I am thankful that mine is in place. I hope yours is too.
"Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge." -- Psalm 16:1
Showing posts with label refuge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label refuge. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2019
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Buffalo Lake NWR
One of my favorite drives in the Texas Panhandle is Farm Road 168 south of Umbarger, Texas. I enjoy the area around Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge. I guess the reason that I like that stretch of road is the wildlife that can be seen at almost any time of day on almost any day of the year. Today as we passed by heading south, we stopped to watch a wild turkey gobbler strutting with full tail fan for a couple of hens. He was less than 30 yards from the road so it was easy to see him.
Often we see deer there. Tonight, as we passed by returning north, we saw numerous deer -- mostly mule deer. There must be hundreds of deer that populate the refuge. At night, many of them migrate into some of the wheat fields that surround the refuge. You can sometimes see herds of 50 or more.
When there is water in the lake (which is rare), there are plenty of waterfowl -- especially during the fall and spring migrations. It is a popular stopping spot for geese and ducks. Frequently, during those migrations, bald eagles can be seen hanging around in their pursuit of the ducks.
I believe the lake was originally impounded in 1937. It became a very popular boating, skiing, and fishing lake in the 50's and 60's, but during the 70's, due to drought and years of silting, the lake went dry. When sufficient rains fell to re-fill the lake in the late 70's, it was determined that the dam was unsafe, so the lake was permanently drained and the old dam replaced by a flood control dam.
I have vague memories as a child of going to Buffalo Lake on the weekends in the summer. I had an uncle that would take his boat out and those who were old enough got to ski. I remember my father skiing and I thought it was "pretty cool". By the time I was old enough to ski, the lake had silted in to the point that skiing was unsafe. At one point, you could walk across nearly any part of the lake without it getting more than waist deep (if I remember correctly).
I am happy that Buffalo Lake is now a National Wildlife Refuge. It would be nice if it was still a recreational lake, but since it is not, I am glad they have preserved it. I believe that it helped immensely in re-establishing the deer population of the central and southwestern Panhandle.
If you have memories of Buffalo Lake "as it was", please share them in the comments. I would be very interested in the stories. If you have pictures, you can e-mail them to me at panhandlepoet@hotmail.com, I will post them for you.
Often we see deer there. Tonight, as we passed by returning north, we saw numerous deer -- mostly mule deer. There must be hundreds of deer that populate the refuge. At night, many of them migrate into some of the wheat fields that surround the refuge. You can sometimes see herds of 50 or more.
When there is water in the lake (which is rare), there are plenty of waterfowl -- especially during the fall and spring migrations. It is a popular stopping spot for geese and ducks. Frequently, during those migrations, bald eagles can be seen hanging around in their pursuit of the ducks.
I believe the lake was originally impounded in 1937. It became a very popular boating, skiing, and fishing lake in the 50's and 60's, but during the 70's, due to drought and years of silting, the lake went dry. When sufficient rains fell to re-fill the lake in the late 70's, it was determined that the dam was unsafe, so the lake was permanently drained and the old dam replaced by a flood control dam.
I have vague memories as a child of going to Buffalo Lake on the weekends in the summer. I had an uncle that would take his boat out and those who were old enough got to ski. I remember my father skiing and I thought it was "pretty cool". By the time I was old enough to ski, the lake had silted in to the point that skiing was unsafe. At one point, you could walk across nearly any part of the lake without it getting more than waist deep (if I remember correctly).
I am happy that Buffalo Lake is now a National Wildlife Refuge. It would be nice if it was still a recreational lake, but since it is not, I am glad they have preserved it. I believe that it helped immensely in re-establishing the deer population of the central and southwestern Panhandle.
If you have memories of Buffalo Lake "as it was", please share them in the comments. I would be very interested in the stories. If you have pictures, you can e-mail them to me at panhandlepoet@hotmail.com, I will post them for you.
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