"How America changed at 7:46 Tuesday"
I love the Christian Science Monitor! Who can resist a headline like that? It's downright poetic!
So America's 300millionth citizen was born. Though no one is sure who s/he is. Just the Census Bureau prediction. You know what I love about the article? It immediately launches into a discussion of diversity, economic, and environmental concerns. It's cautiously optimistic; there's a bouyant feeling when you think about Baby #300,000,000 lying all bundled up in a blanky and a diaper in a hospital somewhere. All too soon, however, the realities begin to siphon through this effervescence. What about the economy? the diverse legal status of America's workforce? and natural resources? These aren't problems that will go away.
As life in America becomes more complicated, it's a fight to live a simple life. What did we do before paper towels and prepackaged salad?
Currently my personal battle in the fight Live Simply is the quest for new dishcloths. I've been using the same ones since we were married, about five and a half years now. They're rag-bag worthy. (Yes, I have a rag-bag, too.) I cannot find a simple dishcloth in a store to save my life. It's all about the sponge now. You use them until they're gross and then throw them away. If you have a nice neat stack of dishcloths and towels, you can wake up in the morning to a clean sink and a fresh cloth and towel. I guess you could argue about the power and water that's used to clean the cloths. Maybe it isn't all that more economical in the end. Whatever. I like my matching cloths and towels even if they are totally worn out. So there. So much for my quest to Make Them Matter. I'm writing myself into a hole. Just stop!
Anyway, back to the Monitor, there's a brief series about this new landmark in our nation's social status.
Comments
Try a local dollar store--Tim's g-ma gets dish cloths etc. at places like that to make nifty crafts out of to sell to support their senior citizen group.
Yeah, 300 million is a lot of people! But I think, too (like what you said), that it's not only how many but also how they live. One family with lots of kids that teaches their kids to live conservatively is less wasteful than a small preppy family with children that feel entitled to everything.
Posted by: Jo | 18.10.06 09:23
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Martha Stewart's "Everyday" line is sold at K-Mart, and includes good ol' cotton dish rags. They come in a big package.
"These vintage towels and washcloths will add charm to any kitchen. The bar mop utility dishcloths and towels are modeled after the ones used by bartenders and are ideal for mopping up spills. Bar mop towels or dishcloths are sold separately in packages of 4 each"
Posted by: grammy1 | 18.10.06 09:24
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ah, I love a good dishcloth, too. My friend's grandma crochets these amazing ones that are perfect because the bumpiness of the yarn makes the food come unstuck from things without you having to use your fingernails through the dishcloth.
Posted by: linnea | 18.10.06 09:38
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Yayy for CSM! I think they write such interesting, insightful stuff. And as for dishcloths, I know this sounds weird, but I've grown fond of those little paint rags you buy at home supply stores. They're thin, easily wringable, and so cheap that you can just toss them when they start looking gross. They're also great for dusting. Thus, my two cents. Have a great day.
Posted by: Haley | 18.10.06 10:26
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All the dishclotsh that I bought in the UK have holes in them now and I refuse to buy new ones - not if we're going home in under a year!
Guess what? I got pumpkins and I'm going to bake them just like you do!
Posted by: Bryonie | 18.10.06 15:34