My crocuses are blooming mighty early this year. These crocuses do tend to come out early, so I honestly can’t remember if this is their normal bloom time or not, but either way, it’s got me thinking about this world we live in – this warming globe of ours.
So as I schlep the kids around town in my big old minivan, questions bounce around in my head:
Why do so many people drive giant gas-guzzling vehicles - alone - to the grocery store?
Why am I one of them?
Am I allowed to call myself an environmentalist and drive a minivan?
Will the car companies ever give us a hybrid or electric minivan?
Could a Prius V hold 3 carseats?
Is it better to go hybrid or electric?
Will I ever convince my husband that a Nissan Leaf is way cooler than his current car?
If you have no garage – or no driveway – where do you put your charging station for your electric car? Do you just install it right there on the road? Is that safe?
Which is greener – solar panels or wind energy?
What on earth am I going to cook for dinner tonight? Will my children play together peacefully long enough for me to lovingly prepare a locavore feast from scratch, or shall I just break open a box of frozen chicken nuggets again?
What would happen if every villager in every developing country adopted my lifestyle? What’s my responsibility here?
Why are my crocuses blooming so early?
All REALLY good questions – it’s 70 degrees here and SO WIERD. I dunno – my sister just bought a minivan (sigh), but I love the idea of a little electric car next. Then again, I don’t have to stuff three car seats….won’t it be nice when electric cars will be the norm?
At some point, you have to say that fitting your kids in a car, safely, is a priority. We all do the best we can, and strive to do better. You are doing an amazing job. At this point in your life, a mini-van makes sense. Someday, when you don’t need all the carseats, I have confidence that you will buy something that is more environmentally friendly. In the meantime, you are MILES ahead of most.
My crocuses are early, too. They should bloom in MD in March. I also have a minivan and was hoping to get a hybrid–WHEN will that be a possibility?!
I wonder the same thing about minivans, when will they go hybrid or better? Well, let’s face it, I share all of these neuroses.
Good to have you back! I have no answers to your questions. I am in denial about my gas-guzzler. And the crocuses. But I love to have friends who at least ask these questions.
Well, I’ve got a fuel efficient SmartCar, but I commute 20 miles each way to work, which in my opinion cancels it out. These are hard questions that I struggle with too (and I don’t have a house full of kids!). I think all any of us can do is do the best we can every day.
Excellent questions … I am right there with you. We had to give up our Toyota Corolla when the twins were born (we had the three car seat problem too). Now that the kids are three teens, and the van is pushing 12 years old!! we are starting to think about a new car. Leg room is now the issue!!! and I fear that we will be in minivan land for the foreseeable future.
Our crocuses aren’t up yet — but it has been one weird winter.
I know you’ll keep up with cooking from scratch when you can, but there will always be chicken nugget nights…and that is okay.