Recycling Revisited

Remember when you were younger and if you imagined yourself being 40 years old you may as well imagine yourself being 80...both seemed equally as far away. You lived your life carefree with little thought to the consequences of your actions.

If you spent your weekends (possibly an occasional weekday) in a smokey bar, you know what I mean. If you were going to lay out in the sun and your mother asked, "Are you wearing sunscreen?" and you said, "Well, it kinda defeats the purpose!" and then proceeded to lather yourself in baby oil, you know what I mean. If you have reheated leftovers in the microwave in a plastic container, you know what I mean. If you've gone to bed with your makeup on and without washing your face, you know what I mean. I think I've made my point.

This weekend I will turn 42 years old and 80 seems a lot closer than I ever imagined it could. All of a sudden, all those things I did without regard to the outcome are starting to catch up with me. So I've taken stock and have become more aware of the consequences my decisions have. As my grandfather used to say, "If I'd have known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."

And so, as I approach 42, I have almost completely stopped drinking. It makes me stuffed up and the next day it leaves me feeling a little blue. Life's too short. I'm also trying to exercise more often and for once it's not to lose weight or to try to fit into a dress. I'm doing it because I noticed that I actually feel better when I do. I stay out of the sun if I can and when I can't I wear at least 35 spf. I try to be conscious of how the things that I buy and how we dispose of them affect our environment...especially plastic.

So I was pleasantly surprised today when I popped into the boutique downstairs from my husband's office and saw that they had these fun retro looking bags made out of 95% recycled post consumer waste. They take recyclable plastic bottles and used grain sacks, clean and grind them, melt them into rolls of recycled plastic, weave it into durable bag fabric, print it with various graphics, and create several styles of bags. And now, thanks to my husband, I've got one as a birthday present!