Happy Earth Day to me.....

I used to be in the Earth Club my freshman year in High School. I wasn't a very active participant, but I believe in beautifying our earth. When I met Michael, I was happy to see that, like me, he had a habit of picking up trash in random places and holding it until he found a garbage can. I encourage my boys to do so, to leave a park nicer than when we arrived. That's about my extent. I went to visit family in Seattle and was wide eyed shocked at the recycling regimen. I've never recycled. Yeah, its a burden, but I just don't see the necessity...don't flog me! Michael feels the same way. Then Michael told me our friend who works for recycling company...buys plastic bottles to recycle and pretty much they throw everything else away. Did you know that people painstakingly recycle, the recycle truck comes around, take it somewhere...but to where? I guess to a place that takes what is most valuable (the plastic bottles) and throw the rest with our other garbage in a landfill? I don't have evidence, but this friend of ours tells us so. I mean, has anyone actually traveled with their recyclables to see where it really ends up? No, you just believe and have faith that it goes to the right place. This doesn't encourage me to recycle much. I did watch Oprah's Earth Day show yesterday and had some thoughts about some things I maybe could do differently. Compost sounds nice to get good worm poop for soil, but not the churning of the stinky garbage for months. They also talked about eating organically which Michael says is just a fad, but I don't think its going anywhere. All this talk about eating organically...people say if you aren't, then you aren't being healthy. Sheesh, I thought I was doing good providing fruits and veggies to my kids...if it isn't organic, then I might as well just give them cakes and cookies, because it isn't "healthy" unless it is organic.

On Monday I ran into a dear friend at the grocery store and she ended up getting in line after me. I felt a little guilty asking for my plastic as she was handing the checker her canvas pre-purchased bags. Well, the next day, Earth Day, she got me a little present. 2 of my very own green canvas bags and a book with suggestions on how to be more proactive (with quotes/stories from celebrites which she knows I love). I think she was a bit nervous to give them to me, thinking I'd be annoyed. I can appreciate such a gift, and I even cracked open the book and read some excerpts to Michael after dinner. Because she is a dear friend, I will read the book. Internalize some things and see if it convinces me to make some changes. I'm not promising anything, but if she is that passionate about it, I gotta give it a chance.