Sleep has been called temporary death, but there’s so much that goes on during that time of repose. Your brain is more active while you’re asleep than when watching television, and that’s even when you don’t walk or talk in your sleep. No wonder You can lose sleep over things. While visiting that other world one might walk, talk, grind teeth, and sometimes dream.
When I woke up the other night, I remembered my dream, and I knew what it was about.
I am in a low-security detention center. Not quite a prison, but really really close. Noticing how nice everyone was dressed, I was glad that I too was dressed for the occasion. I was resolved that it was ok to be here to pay my dues, but I really wanted to make some friends so I could get out early. “I can be friendly” so I started out to shake hands and introduce myself. Everyone looked at me like I was speaking another language, and did not understand. “Darn it.” I thought I could get out sooner than this…”
My developmental detail with NOAA or the National Marine Fisheries Service is just half over. Last week I went to the office on Monday to attend a Staff Meeting and then returned again on Friday to pick up some reading material, see who was around and do an interview with the “Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources Division.”
It was a good week. Monday I drove and Friday I took the Amtrak. I like taking the train to work.
There were sunny skies on my NOAA computer.
I was thinking that things weren’t too bad, but I became a bit concerned after listening to the Monday staff meeting. There was talk about some people feeling overworked, and if you think assignments aren’t evenly distributed… and who to talk to if you aren’t happy.
When the round-robin came to me I thanked everyone for their patience and asked if I could take a photo of the group. “Yes, what a good idea…” Individual conversations broke out and then… everyone moved on and adjourned and left the room and went to their individual cubicles or left the office.
All I could surmise was that I didn’t spell out the words “PHOTO – NOW,” and pull out my camera and start flashing. What part wasn’t clear? All I can figure is that I need to make an appointment for even the simplest of things, like take a photo.
It’s not just the photo thing, but in order to ask a question, I need an appointment. To get comments, I need an appointment. And every time I do catch someone in the office to ask a question I get “Now why do you need that?” or “What is that for?” or “I guess you could do that…” and it is almost always accompanied by that blank look “Que?” “Por que?” “No hablo englesia.” and off they scurry out of the office.
Consider these photos. This is a the view the fish biologists look at when they are in the office. Possibly what I didn’t understand while awake, I understood in my sleep? Cells. Prison cells?
What happens to a biologist when you lock them up in a high rise cement and glass building?
OK, I’m not being fair. (Blogging isn’t about being fair.) After all, I only really know two of their words: Biological Assessment and Biological Opinion. Perhaps there was more to their talk than I could possibly understand. Maybe their words were really code words for planning their escape! Words like:
Threat Assessments
Recovery Strategies
Independent populations
Habitat Restoration
Recovery Actions
Predation Threats
Salinity Control Gates
POD Workshop
Emergency Levee work
Independent Science Board
And
Spring Run Program…
What if – they are the ones that are threatened? What if they are the ones that wish to run, to be independent, to be in control, to recover?
Maybe I’ll try harder to make some friends, or maybe I’ll just plan to join in their break out of prison! Maybe my next blog could be about “The Great NOAA Escape!”
Right now, I’ll try not to lose sleep over it.
Actual candid photo of NOAA fisheries biologist.