Haiku Ewe

Altruism has its pros and cons. My husband read that it actually takes our brains several seconds longer to process kindness than anger. That explains so much about the 405!

This week and last, Haiku Ewe wrestled with her natural sheep inclination to live for the day and look out for number one when she stumbled upon some birds trapped in a tar puddle.

One of the earliest comments suggested that “the cartoonist” declined a request for spare change “on the way to the studio.” I’ve thought about that a lot. As I’ve said before, I live in downtown Los Angeles and the homeless and mentally ill population is large here. Every single day, residents and workers confront the ought-to’s of giving money to junkies versus withholding it. Which is better? How this translated into birds trapped in tar being saved by a sheep I’ll never know.

Soon after we moved here, I made a rule for myself: I wouldn’t give anyone money but I would always buy someone food if asked. This decision doesn’t seem like a bad one on the surface, but an added component is that I am a health nut. I’ve lost count of how many times I was screamed at for my lack of willingness to buy people junk food.

Interestingly, my reputation must have spread because I haven’t been asked for a thing for about a year. I can’t help imagining the circulation of a “BEWARE!” poster displaying my photo that reads “Will force salad, fruit, protein and water on you!! Will never buy doughnuts!”

P.S. My “studio” is the coffee table in my living room.

Idaho is a fascinating place. Nature has created such beauty there that I think the artists get intimidated and choke up (see right). Idaho’s air is crisp and her skylines are devoid of the brown stripe we work hard not to see in L.A. The golden hills, the vast fields and the jagged mountains fill a person with wonder. As do the prices.

My sister and I stopped by a convenience store to buy some bottles of water. When we saw that the price was one dollar (ONE! ONE!!!) for three (THREE! THREE!!!) bottles of Dasani, we lost all composure. We were gushing and triple checking the sign and asking the cashier if she was sure. I almost grabbed nine (NINE! NINE!!!) bottles of water which would have only cost me three dollars (THREE! THREE!!!). However, upon sustaining older sister stink eye, I abandoned the idea.

Lisa and I eventually regained our composure and paid quietly (I thought) for our products. A few jubilant titters escaped, but nothing to speak of. The clerk handed me my change, nineteen dollars, with a laugh. Not a laugh with me but more at me. Clearly we’d tipped our tourist hat.

Once back in the red Cadillac, my sister shared some of her other city slicker experiences including but not limited to mistaking a coyote for a lost dog and doubting a native North Dakotatonian (is that what they’re called?) when he pointed out a bald eagle. In the spirit of sharing, I told her about the time I sat atop a horse and asked if the saddle came with some sort of seat belt. I still think that’s a good idea. By the way, the answer is no.

On Sunday, Lisa’s plane left a few hours before mine and I had the opportunity to prowl around Idaho Falls … which is how it felt as I wore a maxi dress (fine in L.A.) and received the same furrowed brow stares as with the red Cadillac in Yellowstone.

Idaho Falls has this beautiful man-made dam/raging river thing flowing right through the town. The L.A. “River” could really take a few notes from this thing. People were even fishing in it. Odd, but okay! So I took my Jimmy John (where have THEY been all my life?!) sandwich and found a sunny rock on which to light. It was delightful (pardon the pun).

The people weren’t terribly friendly (because of the maxi dress? or maybe the public art shame?) but the scenery was unforgettable. Viva Idaho!

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Haiku Ewe is honored to have been chosen to be a part of the Cartoon Art Museum’s exhibit in San Francisco, CA!