Thanks for thinking of me yesterday.

I guess you could call April 22 my Bearthday.

I appreciate all the kind words and signs of affection – planting of trees, recycling, and the like.

But with all due respect, it wouldn’t hurt if you thought about me more often.

It’s not as though I’m the center of the universe. Honestly, for accuracy’s sake, I’m a few planets away from that distinction.

However, it’s important that we acknowledge each other 365 days a year rather than one day a year each April.

With that in mind, I have some pointers for you:

¢ Recycle, recycle, recycle. Yes, I know it can be a bit time consuming, but it’s a great way to conserve. Besides, you’ll be amazed by how much less garbage you’ll be taking to the curb on trash days.

¢ Conserve. Take shorter showers, don’t let the faucet run while you’re brushing your teeth and so on and so forth. It helps the environment, but also helps cut down your energy bills. Speaking of those energy bills, use light bulbs that are more energy efficient and shut lights off when you’re not in that particular room.

¢ Stick with it. Start conservation and recycling plans and keep them going. More and more people are talking about global warming, or global climate change, as it’s being referred to nowadays. Some people think it’s simply a farce, but wouldn’t it make sense to leave the world in better shape than you found it? After all, that’s what your parents told you when you were growing up, correct? Clean up after yourself and leave the place in better shape than you found it.

It appears as though some people are thinking about me on a regular basis – no matter their political beliefs. On Monday, two commercials aired. The first was with current House Speaker and Democrat Nancy Pelosi and former House Speaker and Republican Newt Gingrich. The other included Rev. Al Sharpton and televangelist Pat Robertson. In both ads, the people involved admit they don’t see eye to eye on many things, but one thing they do agree on is this – we must care for the environment and combat global climate change.

In Kansas, the debate has boiled down to environment vs. economics as people are disagreeing intensely about a proposed coal-burning plant near Holcomb.

It’s a tough issue, especially considering what it could do for the economy in Western Kansas.

But we also must remember this: Your children and their children and more relatives for years to come, it’s hoped, will be hanging out with me. For them, don’t you want to heed your parents’ advice?

Sincerely,

Earth