• Listen to me?

    At least the kids are listening.

    I’d swear I covered this a long time ago, but judging from Beth’s reaction to this telling, I’m guessing I didn’t. A couple months ago Beth asked me why we recycle. I told her.

    Now Beth wants to recycle everything she can. When she can’t, she wants a detailed explanation why not (which usually isn’t sufficient). She figured the next part out on her own: it’s better not to use stuff wastefully in the first place. Now she’s telling me when I’m using more than I need. “Dad, don’t get out that spoon, I can make due with this fork. We shouldn’t wash more than we have to.” (Beth doesn’t even do the dishes, though it brings up an interesting idea….)

    I’ve heard this before, and you might have too, but it bears repeating: “we don’t inherit the planet from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” No matter what you think about the environment… no matter what you think about climate change, resource depletion, pollution, or over-population… think about your kids. Think about what happens to them if you think the status quo is just fine, you do nothing to change it, and you’re wrong.

    There are many reasons why I’m proud of Beth, but I’m especially proud she understands this. I’m happy to let her hold me to my responsibility… to her and her generation.

    onebluemarble.jpg

    A blogging friend of mine started a new web site devoted to taking action on climate issues. There’s a focus on Canadian politics, but the issues are universal and there’s some good advise for everyone. Beth and I invite you to take a look (click the image to the right). You’d do well to take her advise. If there’s anyone who embodies stubborn and determined, then that someone lives in my house.

    Don’t make her check my server logs.

  • Loving me

    Cheryl is less than impressed when I find a drop of water on a clean spoon (fresh from the dishwasher) and dry it off on my shirt.

    I just put it on, doesn’t that count for something?

  • I miss it

    It never let us down. It took care of us. It took care of Cheryl when she needed to be protected. I hadn’t really thought about it much. I’ve had plenty of other things to think about (and do).

    Tonight I was playing around with the phone and ended up on a street view of our house on google, and there it was in our drive way, parked next to my little blue Civic: our old CR-V. We really don’t have the money, but we’re toying with the idea of trying to swing a deal on a Civic hybrid. Both of us have jobs that require a car, so we’ll need to get something.

    Me thinks a few things will have to fall into place first, but we did get one thing in the mail that was encouraging. We finally got a check from our insurance company for… you guessed it, the CR-V.