"...smog. You know, people can live with it, but trees -- it gives them asthma." -Maude

We're not gonna make it.

This is my thought as my bus turns onto the parking lot of I-75.

Back up.

I've made it a habit to apologize to each forlorn tree trying to grow alongside the highway (Really, next time you're out look at the trees next to a road. Don't they look haggard?). Some would say this is a departure from the prayer I've offered elsewhere. I would not. My conclusion at the top of this post borders on producing the opposite feeling that prayers are supposed to elicit, but I no longer give a flying fuck about consistency, especially concerning such fleeting feelings as personal peace. My aim is for truth.

What if we outlawed FUVs? I see way too many of them with one or two passengers, and I know there are some huge families who use them responsibly, but it would be tricky to fairly mitigate exceptions, so for now, blanket statement: ban them all. That would be one way of changing public perception of what these family-sized coffins on wheels are doing to the planet. Remember when Carter tried to curb our addiction to nonrenewable energy sources? I do. Though he stopped short of making it criminal to waste energy, he made sure incentives were in place to see that we all did our part, or pay through the nose. For many years in the 70s and early 80s my dad rode his bike to and from work -- 15 miles each way.

Or, here's a novel idea, let's resurrect the carpool. Talk with your coworkers about sharing responsibilities for rides.

Maybe there's more we can do than I, in my bleakness, opened with; I'm certainly up for any thoughts.