We ran through the woods laughing, crying, and living.

Sent on by
Ann Del Vecchio
Send Your Own Message

Dear Donatella,

I want you to have all the wonderful, joyful, and live-giving gifts the Earth has to offer and that I have experienced growing up.

Born in San Diego and transplanted to Virginia I have known the ocean, seaweed, kelp, sea urchins, sand dollars, crabs and rocks, glass, and shells of every color, size and shape. In Virginia I ate puckery unripe persimmons, made ink with poke weed berries, and built houses and forts all over the forest around our home. My sisters and I baked tiny loaves and cakes of clay and dirt bread, ran from copperheads, rattlesnakes, and cotton mouth water moccasins. Oak and ash, sycamore, maple, elm, and pine trees made lovely shade and places to climb and read while eating fallen apples and pears.There were creeks to wade in and clouds to watch. It rained a lot but the wet and cold didn’t stop us from trying catch rabbits and foxes. We ran through the woods laughing, crying, and living.

Today in Albuquerque where you were born I gauge the drought and the heat of a six month summer now in terms of its effect on you and your future. You have lived here all your life and I have lived all my adult life in the high desert. I watch the snow and rain grow less and feel the dry summer heat that is so relentless and worry for your future. I love this place and plan to “die in the dirt” here. I know you love it too.

I promise to walk more, ride my bike more and drive less. I promise to build a home with Pop-pop that is solar and designed to have a tiny footprint and run on renewable energy. I promise to use less plastic and petroleum products and to recycle everything I can. I promise to keep your future and the climate of the Earth at the forefront of my daily life and to do everything I can to leave you a legacy and life worth living with the animals, plants, air, and water to sustain you and your children.

Love,

Grandmom

Share on:
 
Send Your Own Message

More Messages to the Future

 

Our Shared Promise

I will act today so you may have a healthy earth to live on.

 

Dear next generation,

Please don’t wait to see the adverse effects instead adopt that river, stream, lake or ocean to make the world a better place.

 

To My Future Children,

Most importantly, I hope you live in a world where science is taken seriously and fact is clearly distinguished from fiction.

 

To you, my dear!

In 2050, I will still be fighting against climate change. I feel that it’s not only my duty, but rather my destiny.

 

To all the children of the future and those who love them,

While there is still breath in this body I will give of my soul and my time and energy to making the world a better place, for you, and all the beautiful living beings of this world.

 

Vitória,

Antes de realizar qualquer ação pense no meio ambiente para que suas atitudes sejam pautadas na sustentabilidade. Assim o seu pensar e agir localmente poderão resvalar na escala global.

 

Dear old dude Mårten,

I know that the 2019 version of me (today that is) wished and hoped for that I did all within my power to turn the world around without loosing sight on the beauty of being alive.

 

Dear Tomorrow,

It wasn’t about Him, it was about Us. And this isn’t about Me, it’s about You. And it won’t be about You, it will be about Them.

 

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to use a water bottle.

 

Dear Tomorrow,

We only have 11 years left until the damage done by climate change is irreversible.

 

I promise to plant trees and to turn off the lights.

 

Dear Tomorrow,

And, if this summer has taught me anything, I am content (because I have to be) living in this limbo, this seemingly endless waiting for the opportunity to change, when really the opportunity exists within our very selves all along.

View All Messages

Send Your Own Message