“I just don’t get why people are so fanatical about trees and our carbon footprint,” I said in typical radio guy arrogance. Angie and I were traveling down the highway in an SUV driving about 70. “Why are these folks such fanatics?” When you have a talk show, you presume that you’re right and the conversation will be about me talking and Angie listening. Wrong.
“Fine, why don’t you just throw your trash out the window?” said Angie. I started to explain why that would be different, and that the ‘crying Indian’ ads of the 1960’s were right. “How is throwing out trash wrong,” she said. “Why can’t we all just toss our junk out of car windows…someone will clean it up.”
She can be sarcastic AND smile at the same time. What a “one-two punch” that is.
It got me to thinking about the pleasures we take for granted because “someone else” will clean it up. We spent a great morning kayaking Anderson’s White River on Monday. The “White River Watchers” work to keep the river clean. It’s easy to kayak and pretend you’re and explorer in native lands. In reality, the river would be filled with garbage without the efforts of some great folks.
Plastic bags sprout on the interstate highways every month or so as workers cleanup our garbage. Unseen men and women collect our trash from our homes, usually before dawn, once a week. Water is safe to drink in any public park thanks to unknown people cleaning our water supply.
As I type this I’m wearing a silk tie, leather belt and shoes, cotton shirt, and some type of synthetic blended pants. I’m probably not going to switch to pants made from hemp, or heaven for bid, sandals. But, the next car will likely be a hybrid of some type and I’ve started taking a few things to the recycling center.
I’m not a fanatic, but I’m becoming more ‘friendly.’
I enjoy the river too. I mostly wade to catch & release smallmouth bass.
I took part in this past weekend’s river cleanup and really enjoyed it!
Thanks again to all who helped!
Add A Comment