Sunday, March 30, 2008

Earth Hour 2008

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Yesterday evening we participated in Earth Hour, an international event to increase awareness of global warming. Here in Seattle many of the government buildings took part. City Hall, the Municipal Tower, the Justice Center and the Central Library all turned off their lights. At our house, after dinner we hurried and got our dishes done, laid out work clothes for today and got lunches packed and ready. A few minutes before 8:00 p.m. we lit candles and put them in the fireplace. We shut off the radio, the computer and all the lights.  A whole entire 60 minutes of quiet reflection time is quite a luxury in our busy, complicated, modern lives. I was looking forward to some serious candle gazing time during which I could ponder several questions that had come up at work about how to deal with a herd of rhinoceros. I figured 20 minute of pondering rhinocerotes would put me well on my way to a nap.

I never even got close to that nap. You see, one of us is much better at sitting still and being quiet. The other one of us, well let's just say that the local Quaker Friends Meeting won't be inviting her back any time soon. I tried to be a good listener, really I did.  At one point I heard, "you know, this Earth Hour would be a great time for me to try again those meditation tapes M. sent me." The pillow stayed in my lap and I remembered to exhale. Earth Hour was not as quiet at our house as I had hoped it would be. Next year I'm throwing a party. The whole herd of rhinoceri is invited.

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Lucky dog! She got to take a nap. Did anyone else out there take part in Earth Hour?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey - that's not true! The Quaker Friends have NOT asked me to refrain from returning! But I will admit I did have a hard time sitting still and meditating for an hour. Maybe I just need practice - in smaller doses.

Aunt Debbi/kurts mom said...

Hey y'all, I did it with the two monkeys that were home. Abby acted just like your shepherd and slept through it. Unfortunately, I think we were the only home in small town Tx that joined in. Better luck next year.

Debbi

Ki said...

Being absent minded I missed Earth Hour entirely. Oh, well I am a fanatic about turning out the lights and unplugging or switching off everything not in use so I guess that counts for something. I had to laugh at your Quaker meeting comment. I went to a meeting many, many years ago, sat and sat, fidgeted for an hour and wondered when the "service" would start! :)

Anonymous said...

I am reluctant to admit that I didn't know about Earth Hour. I am going to attend the Green Show in Seattle this April. Will you be attending?

Viooltje said...

I was hoping to do same as you (except the rhinoceros), but the first joys of spring have kept me working my unfit ass out throughout the weekend. In the end I slept it over, but indeed, my lights were off, both metaphorically and literally. ;-)

Btw the candlelit Diva dog photo is absolutely wonderful.

VP said...

Hi and thanks for your visit over at my place! Glad to see you participated too. I enjoyed the poem in your later post.