BLOGS Peace of Mind

Urban encroachment in South Bay forces wildlife into suburbia

October 17, 2018October 18, 2018 Diane Ako 0 Comments cougar, coyote, Diane Ako, San Jose

Coyotes and cougars now regularly stray into my old ‘hood in San Jose. I lived in Campbell, to be exact – my parents owned a house there for ten years – near San Tomas Aquino and San Tomas Expressway.

We’ve been friends for so long with our former neighbors, the Hiroses, we consider each other family at this point. Whenever I go back, they organize a dinner. We are blessed with their friendship.

I was surprised when they told me there’s so much development, it’s forcing the wildlife into the neighborhoods to seek food. Here’s a recent article about it from their major daily newspaper: https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/23/heres-why-there-are-so-many-coyotes-and-why-they-are-spreading-so-fast/

I enjoy visiting my old home, and have many pleasant memories of life there – and I’m glad none of those memories include looking out to see a cougar in our backyard.

Diane Ako

Diane Ako

Peace of mind By Diane Ako I like to reflect on life. Sometimes it’s philosophically. Sometimes it’s humorously. For all its beauty, life is far too difficult a journey to take alone. You need the support and connection with others to help carry you along the way. Writing brings me that connection– within and without. It clarifies my thoughts and feelings. It helps me reach out to others for advice, wisdom, or feedback. Your thoughts become your actions. Your actions become you. A wise yogi- Patanjali- said, “Speak what is true. Speak what is pleasant.” Let’s speak of things pleasant to one another and seek some peace of mind along the way. ABOUT Diane Ako joined Hawaii: In Real Life in October 2016. She likes being part of a community of local bloggers – people who like writing and sharing, like she does. Ako is an anchor/ reporter at Island News (KITV4 – ABC) in Honolulu. She previously anchored and reported at KHON2 (FOX) and KHNL (NBC), and at stations in California, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. She freelance writes for NMG Network's magazines. In between news jobs, in 2017, she launched and ran her own p.r. company, Diane Ako PR. From 2010-2014, she headed the public relations department at Halekulani Corporation, which oversees luxury resort Halekulani and boutique hotel Waikiki Parc. She’s been blogging since 2009 – before Hawaii: IRL, she wrote for The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the state’s largest daily newspaper, where her stories garnered a dozen journalism awards and an Emmy nomination. Ako has a BA in Communications from Menlo College and an MA in Political Science from University of Hawaii at Manoa. She volunteers as a board member of the Honolulu Gay & Lesbian Cultural Foundation, a Shinto shrine maiden at Daijingyu Temple, a citizen-scientist studying shrimp, and a yoga teacher at a senior center.

Diane Ako has 274 posts and counting. See all posts by Diane Ako

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