Gulf Oil and My Backyard

I'd just finished reading the Saturday Washington Post. I was contemplating the fate of wildlife on the Louisiana Gulf Coast, while observing the lucky wildlife at the feeder station in my back yard, when I was rudely interrupted by a telephone call. It was Rachel from cardholder services with an important message. Grrr.

At my desk now, where I can still glance to the right and see my birds, I've checked my e-mail (my bird watching friend, Shirley, is also online!) and logged into Blogger to tell you, dear reader, my little big-oil-and-the-way-it-goes story.

When I was director of communications at the National Center for State Courts I was pleasantly engaged in writing the organization's annual report, to be issued in the 30th anniversary year of their founding by Chief Justice Warren Burger ... and the Nixon administration. As a running graphic beneath an essay on the organization's accomplishments, I designed a time line with notes about events of historical importance, especially those events that had found their way into the state courts. An event that I listed was the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.

When finished, I circulated the report draft and very soon thereafter the director of development, a rather high-strung lady, marched into my office clutching her copy of the draft. She was shaking all over with a rage she was working hard to contain. As I observed how her blond hair looked like it would momentarily burst into flames said to me, pausing between each word, "Please. Please. Take. This. Out." She closed her eyes and pointed to the Exxon Valdez note.

She didn't much care for me anyway, and this error in judgment scotched it. At the time, I was experiencing an environmental epiphany and was writing my first book, Waterfront Property. Of course I viewed the oil spill as an historical event of consequence! Unfortunately, I "forgot" for a moment that Exxon was a key contributor to the annual fund that "fueled" the National Center for State Courts.

And so, I caved. The Exxon Valdez incident lost its place in the time line of the most significant events of the late twentieth century. Money wins again.

Yes, follow the money.

I think I'll go fill my lawnmower tank with gas and cut the lawn now.