The Exquisite Author And Her Book

—Rachel Carson (and Paul Shepard), Silent Spring, 1962

An author who changed our country, despite the chemical companies/industry trying to discredit her. So cruelly. “Spinster”. And much worse—as DDT seeped into just about everything, including humans. Sadly, she barely lived long enough to note the success of Silent Spring. I hate that she died so young and at the peak of her career—at least she knew her book was working as an instrument of change—at least she didn’t die not knowing she’d made a difference. We’ve come a long way since 1962, we’re paying more attention to our environment, but how far above water are our heads—or, since Mother Teresa would suggest I focus on my own doorstep instead of everyone else’s, how far above water am I? The silly upright swimming pool’s water. Which has an obvious green tint to it, one suggesting DON’T GO IN THERE. Okay. I’m listening…

Saying it’s hot here is understating reality, is moot, tiring. We’re off to the pool place with our pool water sample. We’re thinking about ice cream and global warming and swimming pools that sparkle appealingly (good thing we’re getting more chemicals). Shuffling along in our flip-flops, little gent between us, we know we care about what we touch, smell, ingest. That’s why we Google things constantly and attempt DIY around the house. We’re just tired today. And a little cranky. So tired we might visit Walmart. We might forget our canvas bags when we visit the grocery store. And it’s possible I still have some melamine ware in our dishes cupboard(s). But our vegetables are organic. Ha ha! We’re chronic recyclers. We don’t use products that test on animals. Coconut oil is big around here. See? Life in this broiling valley that’s just a little too far from the ocean is anything but: “just not quite fatal”. In fact, it’s not possible for parents of lively 4 1/2 year old boys to experience any kind of life other than the toes-above-water variety. Right on!

Good. I feel better now. Still hot, but better! Ice cream. Yes. The kind no whales were sacrificed for.

Yours in frozen waterbeds (hmm—and frozen watermelon margaritas),

P sweating B