As you all probably know, our area has been declared in a state of emergency because of the drought. The radio tells us that the metro area only has enough water to last 90 more days. I don't really know what that means. . . will the water stop coming out of the tap then? Oh, the things we take advantage of. Each day we are thinking of what else we can do to save water. So, we are taking shorter showers, fewer baths, using the dishwasher half as much as we were before, avoiding laundry piles, catching rain in empty trash cans. Today, I will plug the drain during my shower, and use the water to flush the toilet. This is serious, but life continues as normal for the most part. These are things we should be doing whether or not there is a drought! All this talk on the radio about legislation to conserve water makes me realize what extremes are required in order for legal action to take place. Now, whenever I do turn on the tap, I have this image of women carrying water on their heads for miles, of thirsty faces, of families wishing for wet. It feels strange to have these days of rain -- heavy rain -- and still know that it would take a month or more of this rain to get us out of the drought. We are spending our days cozy under blankets, with hot cocoa, watching rain out our windows, finding fairy toadstools outside, wishing the rain would "make the trees happy" as Greta puts it. Still, when we drive to the grocery store, we see signs that prohibit outdoor water use, and hear voices on the radio saying that some counties are instituting a fine to households who don't reduce their water consumption by 10%.
7 comments:
Wow, I had no idea. When I was in Mexico and we were in the middle of the dry season, AND carrying all our water from the river I kept singing the Chuck Neufeld song about "Wish it would rain." This song became very important to me in illustrating that whole experience.
We have stopped using our dishwasher bc of malfunction, and while I sometimes miss it, I am reminded of home when I stand over the sink late in the evening caring for our household in such a tangible way. I think of those days in Mexico.
Have a GREAT time in your class! It sounds like Mom is FULLY prepared!
Jen CD
Yes, Chuck's song about "Where is Rain in my Life?" as well as Nanci Griffith's "Oh, I wish it would rain" are both so powerful. The need for rain is so much like emotional voids that we want filled.
I have also enjoyed the act of manually washing the dishes. It feels good to slow down.
Isn't amazing how we (me, at least) live our lives without thinking about the essentials--like water--that so many people have to think about on a daily basis?
Yes, there's so much we take advantage of!
i thought of you guys when i heard NPR's story on the georgia drought a few days ago. it's scary to think about how many parts of the world are running out of water, and how so many americans use it so thoughtlessly (green lawns in arizona, golf courses in las vegas, those things come to mind).
i won't use water the same tonight...hopefully i will be changed for longer.
This makes me think of our friends in Sarajevo that talk about not having water while under siege during the war. They talk about being able to take a shower - including washing their hair - in one liter of water!
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