Earth Day Rambling Thoughts

Carol Collette, " Spring Morning" ,

hand colored etching, 9" x 18"

Today, Earth Day, started out as the most perfect, gentle spring morning. As if Mother Earth was smiling down upon us destructive humans and letting us off the hook(well, around here anyway)for a little while to enjoy the beauty and cyclic wonder of spring in the northern hemisphere. It was comfortably warm, with a little weak sun shining out from behind the wispy clouds. I have noticed for the first time little "leaflets" on a few trees. My backyard wild cherry tree is one of those trees. I know for a fact that this all happened in just a few days, since I remember looking up at the buds on the branches of that tree on Saturday(not a hint of green then). As I drove in to work, there is a place I pass where you can see the hills on the other side of the river and marsh and it was all a soft blur of pinky-red(the maple tree buds) and the mere hint of soft green and/or white. The grass, everywhere, all of a sudden has that almost neon green color. Like the Spring Green crayon in the Crayola box. Of course, as the day went on, the rain clouds came back and it got colder and more raw again. R's track and field meet was postponed again--second day in a row because of rain. That didn't stop R's coach from keeping them after school for an hour and a half practice and a three mile in the rain, though. (My daughter's been grumbling about it, but, she is the one who signed on for the team). I was thinking of how so much has changed in about a year's time, as far as the collective consciousness of most people I know--regarding recycling and simple things like using reusable shopping bags. I have been recycling, composting and trying to purchase things with the least amount of packaging for some time. However, the wasteful American habit of being given a plastic bag for anything in any store seems finally to be a thing of the past, and even I had to get re-trained to not expect one. I remember a few years back, getting so annoyed when you were just about to tell the clerk at a store, "Don't bother with a bag" if I was just taking home one or two items, but before you could say it, they had automatically whisked everything (or even just one thing!) into a huge plastic bag. And if I insisted I didn't want it, I would get this look from the grumpy teenage bagger. Like I was some old, eccentric bat trying to be different or difficult or something, and it was so much trouble to take the item out of the bag.

Now, almost always I get asked if I want a bag in every place I go shopping. This really did change in a year's time, it seems. Yet even, I , who saw the bags as a waste and felt I was swimming in them once I got home, never really considered seriously carrying cloth bags instead. What got me trying to use them was when the supermarket I usually shop at sent me two free ones. This was maybe a year or a year and a half ago. I bought two more and now have a fifth (the German bag from a Berlin drugstore in the photo ) which I always try to keep folded in my handbag in case I need it. No more forgetting my shopping bags in the car--which I used to do as I got used to using them, and taking the store's plastic bags. It has been a kind of deprogramming of my ways in regard to that, as well as lots of other people. Same thing with those plastic water bottles--I hardly ever see anyone walking around with those, thank god. It is a good thing that finally people are putting some thought and effort into being more "eco-conscious", but it is sad that it may be too late. If only we had all been doing this years ago.

Somewhat related--Disney/BBC's documentary "Earth" opens in cinemas today. I heard a very interesting interview with the two directors on Fresh Air (on NPR radio) earlier today.

Check out my comfy new Teva shoes I got in the mail today. 18.99 discounted price at

Sierra Trading Post (my favorite place to get shoes!). Made out of recycled rubber and p.e.t plastic bottles. These are perfect for the summer at work. I can't wear sandals with my toes exposed(because we cut large lites of glass there), so I have to wear something comfortable(I stand the whole time) and "toe covering". I saw these in the catalog (Lent is over and I can shop again--oh joy!) and thought they would be perfect. I ordered another pair of shoes--flippy sandals for when I am not at work--and both pairs of shoes fit right and I am really pleased with them. I thought for sure I would have to exchange one of the pairs.

Okay, now it's couch potato time. The Bruins(always make me think of that Zambonis song, "To Bleed Black and Gold"..heh..heh..) game and American Idol(which has been pretty dull, I have to say--compared to last season's crop of singing contenders) on TV tonight.