On a number of drives throughout my childhood, my mother would suddenly pull over the car to examine a flower by the side of the road or rescue a beetle from tragedy while I, in my late teens and early twenties, sat impatiently in the car.
On
a
number
of
drives
throughout
my
childhood
,
my
mother
would
suddenly
pull
over
the
car
to
examine
a
flower
by
the
side
of
the
road
or
rescue
a
beetle
from
tragedy
while
I
,
in
my
late
teens
and
early
twenties
,
sat
impatiently
in
the
car
.
Though Mother's Day follows Earth Day, for me, they have always been related to each other.
Though
Mother
's
Day
follows
Earth
Day
,
for
me
,
they
have
always
been
related
to
each
other
.
My mom has been "green" since she became concerned about the environment.
My
mom
has
been
``
green
''
since
she
became
concerned
about
the
environment
.
Part of this habit was born of thrift.
Part
of
this
habit
was
born
of
thrift
.
Like her mother and her grandmother before her, mom saves glass jars, empty cheese containers and reuses her plastic bags.
Like
her
mother
and
her
grandmother
before
her
,
mom
saves
glass
jars
,
empty
cheese
containers
and
reuses
her
plastic
bags
.
Mom creates a kind of harmonious relationship with wildlife in her yard.
Mom
creates
a
kind
of
harmonious
relationship
with
wildlife
in
her
yard
.
She knows to pick the apples on her trees a little early to avoid the bears and that if she leaves the bird feeders out at night, it is likely that they will be knocked down by a family of raccoons.
She
knows
to
pick
the
apples
on
her
trees
a
little
early
to
avoid
the
bears
and
that
if
she
leaves
the
bird
feeders
out
at
night
,
it
is
likely
that
they
will
be
knocked
down
by
a
family
of
raccoons
.
Spiders that make their way into the house and are caught in juice glasses will be set loose in the garden.
Spiders
that
make
their
way
into
the
house
and
are
caught
in
juice
glasses
will
be
set
loose
in
the
garden
.
I try to teach my children that looking out for the environment starts with being aware of the environment.
I
try
to
teach
my
children
that
looking
out
for
the
environment
starts
with
being
aware
of
the
environment
.
On busy streets, we look for dandelions to fly in the wind; we say hello to neighborhood cats and pick up plastic cups and paper bags.
On
busy
streets
,
we
look
for
dandelions
to
fly
in
the
wind
;
we
say
hello
to
neighborhood
cats
and
pick
up
plastic
cups
and
paper
bags
.
This teaching comes easily, I realize, because I was taught so well by example.
This
teaching
comes
easily
,
I
realize
,
because
I
was
taught
so
well
by
example
.
Mom didn't need to lecture; she didn't need to beat a drum to change the world.
Mom
did
n't
need
to
lecture
;
she
did
n't
need
to
beat
a
drum
to
change
the
world
.
She simply slowed down enough to enjoy living in it and with that joy came mercy and an instinct for protection.
She
simply
slowed
down
enough
to
enjoy
living
in
it
and
with
that
joy
came
mercy
and
an
instinct
for
protection
.
I am slowing down and it isn't because of the weight of my nearly forty years on the planet, it is out of my concern for the planet itself.
I
am
slowing
down
and
it
is
n't
because
of
the
weight
of
my
nearly
forty
years
on
the
planet
,
it
is
out
of
my
concern
for
the
planet
itself
.
I've begun to save glass jars and reuse packing envelopes.
I
've
begun
to
save
glass
jars
and
reuse
packing
envelopes
.
I pause in my daily tasks to watch the squirrels race each other in the trees above my house.
I
pause
in
my
daily
tasks
to
watch
the
squirrels
race
each
other
in
the
trees
above
my
house
.
Last summer, in the company of my son and daughter, I planted tomatoes in my yard.
Last
summer
,
in
the
company
of
my
son
and
daughter
,
I
planted
tomatoes
in
my
yard
.
With the heat of August around me, I ate the first while sitting on my low wall with dirt on my hands.
With
the
heat
of
August
around
me
,
I
ate
the
first
while
sitting
on
my
low
wall
with
dirt
on
my
hands
.
Warm from the sun, it burst on my tongue with sweetness.
Warm
from
the
sun
,
it
burst
on
my
tongue
with
sweetness
.
I immediately wanted to share with my mom.
I
immediately
wanted
to
share
with
my
mom
.
On a number of drives throughout my childhood, my mother would suddenly pull over the car to examine a flower by the side of the road or rescue a beetle from tragedy while I, in my late teens and early twenties, sat impatiently in the car.  Though Mother's Day follows Earth Day, for me, they have always been related to each other. My mom has been "green" since she became concerned about the environment. Part of this habit was born of thrift. Like her mother and her grandmother before her, mom saves glass jars, empty cheese containers and reuses her plastic bags.  Mom creates a kind of harmonious relationship with wildlife in her yard. She knows to pick the apples on her trees a little early to avoid the bears and that if she leaves the bird feeders out at night, it is likely that they will be knocked down by a family of raccoons. Spiders that make their way into the house and are caught in juice glasses will be set loose in the garden.  I try to teach my children that looking out for the environment starts with being aware of the environment. On busy streets, we look for dandelions to fly in the wind; we say hello to neighborhood cats and pick up plastic cups and paper bags. This teaching comes easily, I realize, because I was taught so well by example. Mom didn't need to lecture; she didn't need to beat a drum to change the world. She simply slowed down enough to enjoy living in it and with that joy came mercy and an instinct for protection.  I am slowing down and it isn't because of the weight of my nearly forty years on the planet, it is out of my concern for the planet itself. I've begun to save glass jars and reuse packing envelopes. I pause in my daily tasks to watch the squirrels race each other in the trees above my house.  Last summer, in the company of my son and daughter, I planted tomatoes in my yard. With the heat of August around me, I ate the first while sitting on my low wall with dirt on my hands. Warm from the sun, it burst on my tongue with sweetness. I immediately wanted to share with my mom.