Letter to my Children: Berry Season vs Overwhelm
/We pulled up to the bus stop as the rain pelted the top of the 4x4 - the windshield dappled gray from koalin clay patina and water drops.
Dragon piped up, “Momma, is rainwater safe?”
My mind immediately sent me pictures of melting gargoyles and the assembly when I was in grade school where the performers sang about “Acid Rain” to the tune of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”
What do I say?
“Ummm, it depends on where you are.”
“Is it safe here?”
God please let this be true. “Oh yes.”
“Oh good, then I can drink it!”
Immediately the two of you stuck your tongues out and tilted your heads back.
And my heart broke.
I am so sorry children that #1 it is a question you would think to ask and #2 human activity has polluted the planet to such an extent that your mother doesn’t know the answer. So I do some digging.
Which leads me to #3. The EPA reports that as of 2022 the Acid Rain Program (Hooray for the Clean Air Act!) has “delivered significant reductions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants, extensive environmental and human health benefits, and far lower-than-expected costs.” However, I keep digging and this is not true globally. In fact, the Global North is outsourcing dirty cheap manufacturing to those parts of the world with fewer regulations - poisoning those inhabitants so you two can buy plastic crap in CVS.
Why does this always come back to capitalism and consumerism!?!? It feels as though many conversations these days are tributaries leading to the same entrenched economic river.
Speaking of entrenched economic rivers…later that week we went to a protest.
A protest where I politicians said platitudes like this: “this country was founded on the principal that all men are equal.”
And I turned to Bean and rejoined, “yes, but only if you were a white land owning male at the top of the capitalist pyramid. It would be more accurate if they said Our job is to ensure our country’s founding ideals are actualized...”
Bean, you were not happy with the loud yelling and group chanting. Dragon, you were playing with T and not really paying attention to stage and the signs.
Which in retrospect was probably a very good thing with your reading prowess, my Dragon. Because your sister and I had this conversation. “Momma, what is a wrap-est?”
“A wrap-est?”
I looked around and saw the sign.
Oh fugger. How in the world am I going to explain this one.
“A rapist is someone who touches you without your permission. It is a really strong and powerful word - it is a terrible thing to call someone and a terrible thing to be called.”
“Momma, I don’t like it here. Will S be here soon?”
“Yes, my love, they are on their way.”
“Momma, what does that one mean?”
I looked up - the sign said The wrong ICE is melting.
“Well, that is referring to the Polar Ice caps melting and yet ideally it would be ICE - the Immigration Customs Enforcement Department that is deporting people without trials. It is very scary and unfair.”
The heartbreak continued.
It was wonderful to be with community and feel the collective energy and enthusiasm - though at times the line was crossed and it felt as though we were feeding rage to everyone’s Cranky Monsters.
To offset the overwhelm we went berry picking.
A lot.
Strawberries while the two of you practiced soccer. The late afternoon sun shining through the dappled clouds.
You two dribbled, passed, and sweat while I scooted. The sharp hay digging into my thighs and knees as I dug through leaves to find ripe berries.
I took off my shoes - sent my thanks to Mother Earth. Thank you for berries. Thank you for Sky Woman’s love berries. Thank you for the ability to pick so that we may enjoy these during the dark cold months.
Thank you for feeding us.
Cherries - we all picked in the rain.
Thank you for this orchard. Thank you for the abundance and the glory of cherry season. Thank you for the sweet fruit that we love.
Thank you thank you.
Thank you
Berry picking for the win.
