A few weeks ago, I began and ended my day without a jacket. I didn’t wear the obligatory scarf, nor did I have a need for layered clothing (often typical in New England). Rather, I dressed appropriately for a sunny spring day. It was great! I like beginning and ending my day with the sun high in the sky. I am never one to wear bulky jackets, therefore my jacket-free attire seemed to set a tone that today would be a good day (wink wink Ice Cube).
Although I loved being free of all my Fall necessities, I must say that the reality of what seventy degree weather meant in November was not lost on me. What the hell are we doing to our Earth? I know there are many out there who deny the fact that our Earth is not changing, however, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude there are significant things happening in real time to this planet we call home.
I remember being an elementary school kid and waking up to piles upon piles of white snow. My siblings and I would run to the window, hands splayed across the glass with our faces pressed squarely on the surface. The entire world was blanketed with whiteness. It looked so clean and fluffy! Often, school was not cancelled. We were given hot cornmeal porridge, buttered Jamaican hard dough bread and peppermint tea. Back then, we had our boots, jackets, scarves, hats, mittens and of course layer on layer of Vaseline on our faces, hands and entire body to keep the ash away. With that, we were sent to wait at the bus stop and later as middle schoolers we walked the few miles to school.
Winters in the eighties and nineties were just that, WINTER. The air was vivacious and brisk and many of us believed our fingers would be frozen forever as we threw snowballs at each other as we made our way to and from school. These memories are sealed permanently in my mind. Those were good times, we of course made snow men (and women), igloos and slid down temporary icy steps that miraculously turned into a frozen slide. As I sit here and type, I am trying to rack my brain for the last time we had a snowfall in New England that mirrored that of winters in eighties and nineties. Readers, I can not recall.
I am always hearing news alerts about the change in weather patterns, scientist warn we must adapt to a change in severity of storms, forest fires as well as the decreased populations of myriad of animals whose natural habitats are disappearing in real time. It’s quite alarming to think where we will be in the next ten to twenty years or even the next five. The Earth has spoken, she cannot be mirthful with the current state of events.
What are your thoughts dear reader? Blessings.
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Sula 
It’s a sin what humanity has done to Mother Earth with global warming. The reality of climate change means that our descendants might never know the kind of winter wonderland you’ve described. But it’s not too late for everyone to do their parts to lessen our carbon footprint. Thank you for your post!
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It’s sad to think that this is our reality. Thanks to a good friend I’ve become better at recycling and even reusing items I would have thrown out in the past. Thanks for sharing.
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It’s quite interesting to think of Earth, as just what it is, the only home we’ll ever have. However, our approach to loving her, is much to the contrary. I can not deny there were ways of my own that were not entirely environmentally friendly. Those ways had to change and I continue to make an effort in pursuit of that change. I make an effort to find the nearest trash can to dispose of my trash, rather than discarding it on the ground.
Growing up in the 80s and 90s meant winter was literally snow storms, snow ball fights, sleds and rare school cancellations. What I’ve seen in the last decade or so, is mild winters with an accumulation of snow that’s laughable.
Maybe it won’t impact us entirely, but our generation to come will be gravely impacted. Let’s take the time to take the time to care a little more about home.
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Yes, we must take care of home if not for ourselves for those whom will be here long after we are gone! Thanks for sharing.☀️
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