Earth Day Celebration

My thoughts as I was reminded by Glenn and Google this morning:

I should not need a reminder, considering our family’s history around Earth Day; that’s another story I will never forget.

We saved some trees over the years by not printing our thousands of photos, stored digitally for everyone to enjoy.

Naturally we have peaceful memories centered in a favorite frontier retreat nearby … the 4,400-acre Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve and boardwalk; (more at nature.org)

Actions that “celebrate” today:

Turned off the lights and the furnace; (it’s still cold outside at night.)

Opened the blinds to see nature, and  "let the sunshine in"; (recalled "Aquarius" by The 5th Dimension, and I felt it!)

Recycled Del Taco Tuesday paper sacks, and figured their “hand-grated fresh cheddar” process saved electricity; (we choose our fast food with care.)

Learned that “it takes just a few clicks to help protect our planet on the day that we celebrate it.”  – The Nature Conservancy

Quietly push-mowed the lawn by my own power without waking the neighbors, and minimally watered.

Checked out “our 10 things you can do to help save the Earth." 

– science.howstuffworks.com

Planned to shovel compost into a grow box, and take a twenty-minute power nap as a celebratory siesta.

Just the two of us lovebirds

Playing Favorites

As a parent and grandparent, I sometimes play favorites, like "The Little Engine That Could" story copied to a cassette tape many years ago as a backup of my favorite kids’ record.  Narrated by Paul Wing in the early 1950s (I believe, per loc.gov and the National Recording Preservation Board), it teaches children a valuable lesson.  I found and played the bedtime story for a very special granddaughter visiting us last week – put her and Grandma to sleep … so sweet!  Hearing the recording brought back memories of listening to it as a young boy, probably a hundred times on my little record player. The theme tune still runs through my mind, accompanied by “I think I can … I think I can!”

When I play favorites, it is not partisanship or prejudice, “giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another.”  
– Google defined favoritism.  It’s fair because they are deserving, and there is no expense involved.

In the coming days, I shall think of more favorites I love to play, like “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun” by Claude Debussy (French composer, 1862 - 1918.)

"Debussy's symphonic poem, first performed in 1894 … tells the tale of the mythical faun, playing his pipes alone in the woods. ... From the dreamy opening flute tune, the sleepy calm of an afternoon in the forest ..."  – classicfm.com

That piece definitely deserves preferential treatment!

Courtesy Google.com

Playing the favorite forest zip line ... a calm afternoon for parents.

Easter Joy

I saw it last Sunday in a combined meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  And I felt joy again this morning, watching the video "He Lives".  We "celebrate Easter because Jesus Christ lives."  

I know with all my heart and soul, that our Savior atoned for our sins, died for us all, and rose on the third day.  It is true – "No matter who you are ... the greatest miracle ...  He lives today."

www.mormon.org/easter