I listened to some journalists talk about how we need to do “more” to save the planet. I agree but I think back to the time when I was growing up in the 1950’s.

Bottles were returned for a deposit – then reused. There were no plastic water bottles (which today are used in a minute and tossed out by the billions). Clothes were dried on a line – by solar and wind power. No 220 volt dryers chugging for an hour and a half. Diapers were washed and reused. We had one television in the house with a screen the size of a placemat. There were no “stadium sized” televisions sucking electricity. Our moms used an egg beater to whisk everything (there was no electric blender). And when we shipped Christmas presents, our parents crumpled newspapers for packing. There were no plastic “peanuts” or bubble wrap. We cut the grass with a hand mower. And raked leaves. No blowers. Wardrobes were pretty modest. Not many “new models” except hand-me-downs. In my house, we had one water glass by the kitchen and bathroom sinks — that everyone used. Rinse to clean – drink. Stores and businesses had water fountains. Thirsty? Use the water fountain. My father changed razor blades in his Schick razor. No disposable razors. Empty jelly jars were repurposed to be our daily dining table “crystal.” Very little was “disposable.” We had no air conditioning. We opened the windows and slept on a towel in super hot weather . . . .

Have we become lazy or complacent? You tell me. We hear political trumpets sounding about saving the environment and how we must look forward and not back. But I do think that looking backward – at least in some areas – could sure provide a lesson for how we might best look ahead.