Today I had two special experiences. I went on a guided walking tour at Sabino Canyon and heard Temple Grandin speak. The tour was led by a retired fellow who has lived in Tucson most of his adult life. He shared much about the history of the area along with the expected observations on cacti and wildlife. We walked in a group of about 30, mostly active adults eager to learn. He shared interesting tidbits about Tucson, such as that real cowboys actually hung out at Pinnacle Peak Restaurant just down the road from us. Also, there used to be an exclusive boarding school for boys near Sabino Canyon. He also talked about how much the climate has changed since he moved to town in the 50's. It has become much hotter and drier. There used to be rivers that ran year round. Now they are dry. In addition to the fun facts I learned, I also appreciated that the tour went on the road less traveled at Sabino and it was fun. The guide said that in the 50 or so years he's been hiking ini the area, he's only seen mountain lions twice. He also said that rattlesnakes aren't out this time of year. I'm going to get Larry to return with me for some hikes away from the tram road on the road less traveled there.
The other highlight of the day was a talk by Temple Grandin at Barnes and Noble. She is a professor of animal behavior who has autism. She studied animals in her youth and learned some valuable insights into human behavior. Her area of expertise is cattle, but she also is well known for her insights into horse and dog behavior. I never made the connection between how certain animals relate to events with the way that children with autism do. It's all how they are wired up neurologically and process information. A point she emphasized was the value of keeping pets and caring for them. She signed copies of her latest book "Animals Make Us Human."
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