Living in this unenlightened town is challenging, to say the least. Fireworks are banned in many places, especially where there is drought and fire danger; but I had to endure four nights of legal fireworks here. The rain that we had on Tuesday night (the 4th) did not stop the pyromaniacs. Fireworks were being exploded in the street only a few feet from my upstairs windows that rattled and echoed with each boom. I felt certain that the windows would shatter. In the morning, the lawns and streets were covered with the aftermath debris. I saw a man, too lazy to pick up the mess that had been left, using a leaf blower to blow it all away.
I have previously expressed my dismay over the fact that recycling does not exist in this town. More recently I went on a Saturday to the farmer’s market only to find that it was no longer happening here. The only grocery store in town that offers at least some organic options, does not have self-checkout and the employees do not have a clue how to bag groceries. Most of the consumers still walk out of the store with dozens of the plastic bags that have been banned in more progressive places.
It feels as though the country is moving backwards and all of the progress that has been made over the past fifty years is unraveling. The overturning of Roe v Wade, the continued destruction of habitat, cigarette smoking and drug addiction, and gun loving NRA supporters – to name only a few things – is evidence that our wheels are spinning and progress to restore Nature is running into a wall at every turn. We are no longer a democracy. Our country is being run by corporate billionaires who do not care about the people or the planet. I know that there are others who, like me, are hoping the world will awaken. David Attenborough and millions of others are doing what they can do, imploring people to look outside of their own selfish ego-centered lives, to show compassion, and to seek wisdom over knowledge. We will never give up, but will we be enough to turn the tide? Will the Age of Aquarius arrive? More importantly, will it arrive in time?
