4-23: Earth Day Part 2

Awhile ago Corey and I caught a bit of a show on HGTV where a "life coach" of sorts came in to remodel both the family dynamics and the house. One of the activities they did was to speak one word that describes each member of the family. Corey and I did the same for each other. He chose the word "passionate" for me describing that most things I do with great passion and enthusiasm. He then asked what word I would use to describe myself. After some thought I chose the word, "restless". I went on to explain that I feel like I sometimes jump from thing to thing (passion to passion) trying to find where I will be content to settle. He then added that I usually stick with something until I master it then move onto another challenge - so it isn't necessarily a bad thing to continue to find things to master.

I guess living more earth-friendly is my new "thing" or passion. . .because I can't stop thinking about it. . .and I can't rest in our current take and take state of living.

I flicked the main breaker from "ON" to "OFF" at 9:16 PM Wednesday with my flashlight in hand. A few candles were lit as the half moon provided little to no light and I don't like running into walls. Corey came home, leaving his truck outside and stumbling into the dark garage through the side door. He ate by candlelight and we discussed the events of the day and what tomorrow's Earth Day activities will bring. Unfortunately he missed the shower cut-off but decided that showering in the call room tomorrow morning wouldn't be such a bad thing - after all, nobody wants a smelly doctor examining them. The kids woke up and were not happy with the darkness that surrounded them (they have strong attachments to their nightlights) but were able to get back to sleep with a flashlight nightlight.

Really, the day's events were relatively uneventful. We had to change some of our behaviors, obviously, but it wasn't too difficult. The kids were getting into the idea as well - reminding each other about using water carefully. I heated water on the stove for cleaning dishes and was astounded by how much water I would normally use that I couldn't use (I only had 12 quarts to last the entire day). I had a soapy wash bowl and a rinse bowl and was reminded of my Grandma Lily. She always filled half of her sink with rinse water instead of turning on her tap to rinse the dishes. As a kid I would stand at the sink with her and dunk the clean dishes as her helper. Doing a few more things like my Grandma makes me smile. . .I think it makes her smile too. After washing the dishes we moved the dish rinse bowl and water to the bathroom sink to wash hands. Dip, scrub, rinse.

We grilled some portabello mushroom burgers for dinner on the deck and ran around the yard afterward playing tag. As we enjoyed being outside in the quiet, fresh air, sunshine and blue skies, my thoughts drifted to ask myself what I would pay to preserve this. When I say "pay" I don't mean literally in that I will write a check to Mother Nature in the true American sense, but rather what energies of mine am I willing to trade for the energies of the Earth's? After all, many of us forgo electricity, fresh water from the tap and heat as a recreation. . .we call it camping. Can we use a little more of our own energy more regularly so the earth can save a little of hers?

After the kids were in bed Corey and I sat and watched the sunset fade into night. The bats came out looking for insect dinners. We discussed the reality of our limited natural resources and agreed that we do need to change. We feel good that our children are at an age that we can easily teach them to be more thoughtful with Mother Nature. I wondered aloud if the overwhelming number of cancer diagnoses and deaths Corey fights on a daily basis could be a result of our collective disregard for a healthy balance in our environment? We aren't sure where this desire to change and improve has come or where it will take us. . .but we're willing to try. . .and that's were all changes begin!

Alas, at 9:22 PM Thursday we flicked the switch from "OFF" to "ON" and the house buzzed with power once again. It amazed me that human intelligence is so powerful it devised a system so I can flick one switch to give myself light, water, heat, and a multitude of other household conveniences. . .and yet we're struggling as a community with what do do with our waste? Surely we're smart enough to figure it out - we just have to put our minds to it!

So, what changes have we made today? I'm going to follow Grandma Lily and rinse my dishes in a bowl of water instead of running the tap. Perhaps I will learn to do more things like her with a garden and canning vegetables. . . We have continued using a bowl of water for hand washing in the bathroom (the kids really did use WAY TOO MUCH water washing their hands). We're going to wait to rinse our recyclables in the dish water instead of doing it as they're emptied. We're making a list of these small changes to set in the kitchen as a reminder. Finally, we're hoping you'll share more of what you know to help us make changes together.