What the owl? Birds, Memorial Day, and future questions

Memorial Day weekend, besides being my wedding anniversary, it is one of the traditional weekends in my family. For years we would gather at my Aunt Helen's house and put together the flower arrangements for family members that have passed on. One doesn't appreciate it as much as a child, but as one gets older one can feel the reasoning behind it.

The virus has created a new issue for grave decorating. My aunts are both immune compromised and could not come out with us. It was up to my mother and father to take the reins. They decided to do fresh flower arrangements and small flags to give honor to those who had passed away. When we started on our trek, I had no idea it was going to be one of the coolest days.

The only grave of a person I remember was my Grandma Gardner and Grandpa Sid. Sid passed away when I was 5 and I only really remember him calling me princess and having lemon drops from his pockets. I also remember him taking naps. All I could see was his boots hanging off the edge of the bed, he was quite tall. My grandma passed the year before I graduated in high school. She taught me so many things, including how to properly shuffle cards and to never cheat. She liked to shoot magpies in the garden and talked to the plants in every windowsill. I think I get a lot of my energy from her side of the family.

After dropping her flowers off and introducing my little man to her and telling stories about her, we made our way to the Moreland cemetery. I remember this cemetery a lot as a kid because of a water pump and getting drenched in the process. We placed the flowers on the site. I heard rustling above me...and thought it was a squirrel. We continued to chat for a bit and I could hear the rustling again, except it was a hell of a lot bigger than I thought it would be. I looked up to see what it was, a huge owl! I have never seen an owl outside in the wild, only in a zoo. I tried to get a photo of it, but it flew to a nearby pine tree. It was squeaking with its mate! This was the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life.

I have always felt drawn to animals and it seems carrion birds are drawn to me. Falcons and hawks are some birds that I always see driving around. They are in my life and tend to show up when I need them. I know calling it my spirit animal is considered cultural appropriation, but the closest I can think of is they are drawn to my energy. Whatever one calls it, falcons and hawks are my favorite energy calling, often seen, and much loved birds.

In my research for future stories, I hope to meet someone who could help me go through the steps to find out if falcons truly are my spirit animal. I want to give honor to ancestors and energies in the proper way. 

A lonely life: a diver's look at life

One of my favorite jobs at the Morning News was hearing stories of people who came in. The one that always stuck with me was the stories of Doug. Here is the article I wrote. 

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10 Dec 2019

By Emily Thornton reporter@am-news.com

MORNING NEWS - EMILY THORNTON

This compass was in the water for over thirty years. Items like portholes, lamp covers, clocks, and bottles, are just a few of the items in Hoksbergen’s collection.

BLACKFOOT– When one looks at documentaries about the ocean or watching movies about deep sea diving, one can imagine what it might be like. Not for Doug Hoksbergen, his dream of being a deep sea diver was born when he first saw “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” For years the image of the diver walking away from the submarine and surviving on a single breathing implement, was something that drove him to chase that dream. “My grandfather said ‘ Don’t let anyone tell you no.’ My brother was supportive too.”

When Doug sat down to interview for the Divers Institute of Technology in Seattle, Washington: he almost didn’t make it to the next round of classes. On the wall was a prop from 20,000 Leagues, which was donated to the school. He had pulled it off the wall and put it over his head, “I just had to, you know?” and the lady doing the interview was a little terse with him about it. However, he made it through training. Six to seven months of training and Doug finally had the moment to get into the water. “I knew this is what I always wanted to do.”

One of the most memorable dives Doug went on was on Eugene Island off the gulf of Mexico. “I was only down about 200 feet and it was three in the morning. Even with my head lamp, you can’t see very far in front of you. I looked around and all I could see was these green dots. I was surrounded by sharks. They don’t mess with you. Honestly all the wildlife you see down there don’t mess with you.”

There are some interesting aspects of diving that most people don’t hear about. As a diver one cannot be bashful.

When getting in or out of the suit, “You have to strip down to your birthday suit and get hosed off. Then hopping into the small areas within five minutes and getting gear on, you learn to not care and not be bashful.”

Doug has done numerous types of diving within the field. Saturation diving seems to be one of the most brutal types of diving. One is placed in a hyperbaric chamber which is saturated in a way to keep the occupants at the proper dry pressurization. They are lowered into the water to reach the right working pressure. They are then in the chamber for 28 days and work for about 10 hours a day. They usually do saturation diving chambers for depths greater than 250 feet. Depending on what the work is needed. “It is like having a high paying jail sentence. You do the work and then are stuck in the small confines after going out. It is grueling but hey 28 days on and 28 days off ain’t bad. One of the top women compression divers would rebuild cars on her ranch when off the rig.”

Some of the gear needed for working on underwater demolitions was different than the average diver’s. One has to be safe when the explosion goes off, as well as keeping the innards intact. Doug worked on demolitions mainly with Chevron and when helping with hurricane restoration. “You’ve seen how big those platforms can get. Now imagine them twisted and hurled a couple miles away. There has to be a way to bring up the rubble and get the oil platforms back to working order.”

When Doug was working on salvaging and wrecks, he would find some very interesting items. One ship he found a perfect working compass (which had been water logged) was sunk within two years of being decommissioned. The compass had been in the water for over thirty years but was saved from most of the ravages from the way it was packed away. Items like portholes, lamp covers, clocks, and bottles, are just a few of the items in his collection he is proud of.

Even though Doug dealt with body recovery during hurricanes and salvaging wrecks: he still remains a positive person. The average diver lasts in the business for around five years. Many times it is due to wear on the body or getting injuries. Doug has had numerous injuries from his salvaging, including numerous scars. He even had his ribs broken by a very playful dolphin. “It takes a certain type of person to remain in the business. I absolutely loved the water. It was some of the most peaceful times, just being in the suit and seeing the wildlife. I got to see things very few people get to see first-hand. It’s a unique feeling.” Doug managed to stay within the business for 20 years and has seen places all over the globe. He moved back to Blackfoot after retiring “for the third or fourth time” and has been enjoying being back home with family and friends. “I will always miss the water. But I do like being back.”

This is only a fraction of the stories he told us, but I am very happy to have met this man. He has gone through a lot of things in his life and has kept a good attitude about changes in his life. 

New adventures of a "now" stay at home mom

I have always had a drive to write. Ever since I was a child I would create stories with salt and pepper shakers, cups, or anything near by. I loved creating worlds which made sense to me. The written word was always something for me and I feel my constant reading helped me as well.

Last year I finally got my chance and received my dream job! I was asked to be a general reporter with the Blackfoot Morning News. This job was so much fun. The editor became a really close friend and the banter between all of us made it one of my favorite jobs.

When the coronavirus hit the area, we lost all of the sales team and one of the amazing friends at the office had to work from home. We did ok for a while. We were doing better than the other insert in town and because of this, the larger company decided to purchase our paper, and get rid of us. It wasn't so much a merger, as it was a hostile takeover. I lost my dream job and I will forever miss it.

A little background about me is I have a Masters in Journalism and have loved every part of it. I have been married for close to eight years and we had a little guy in 2016. I was going to school all through the early years of my little man and have been proud of how far I have come. I am proud my little three year old, and he loves creating his own worlds too! 

Moving through the stages of loss, I am currently at the anger stage. I am sad I am no longer at the job and will miss the customers I got to see every day. I am sad about missing the banter. I am mad because I honestly hate the job hunt. I never liked it after I lost my job as an English teacher. Though through each challenge I am going to rise above and become better than I was before.