IRONY ON EARTH DAY

My daughter and I woke up early today (I was up late, and slept through my alarm, but still made it up for 8:30) to pick up a beloved Saskatoon berry bush that our borough was giving away in limited quantities today. We arrived on foot, to be greeted by the longest line of idling cars in the community. How sad that this was billed as an Earth event! I expected most people would not be on foot, but I did expect them to park, or at least organize people without the pollution!

I had a 2.5 km walk home, interrupted by garbage picking through my favourite park with a manual claw that is so fun to use, we were fighting to find the winter collection of refuse and recycling! It felt like Halloweening, with really gross candy! My arms were feeling pretty tired but I thought that it was a good workout, and switching sides, I got home with only a few breaks.

Next was a walk to our local cultural centre, Stewart Hall, with only garbage collecting to distract. We were able to fill a garbage bag on the way, and were almost the only ones doing the map activities. We spent a few minutes doing puppets (kid) and admiring the art exhibit (mom) in the mutually loved library. Parallel play works after infancy sometimes! Our way home was a lot faster, with a full bag of garbage/recycling. We didn't have many stops, and the white pine branches my daughter had collected were a source of fun, and a great midge fly swatter, that by the afternoon was a necessity as we walked along through swarms of the first insects of the year.

On our way home, we went straight to our neighbours for a playdate. My friend and I wanted to explore a new route we plan to eventually run, and we walked another 8.5 km while hashing out life. Time to go home, and eat, with one last return trip left. I walked (how could I drive now on earth day!) my daughter to her dad's and slowly home, with a total of 32,683 steps and 22. 3 km. I wish that  was enough to make up for the dozens of cars idling today, but I know that can't be. Still, it was a great day celebrating simple life, and a joy to be outside with my daughter.

Here's hoping for some Saskatoons, outside of Saskatchewan!