Monday, October 27, 2008

Thank You, Tree, For Giving Your Life

I have been using far too many paper towels. What with the baby dumping the cat’s water dish multiple times a day, and the dirty-face-wiping washcloths getting holes in them therefore advocating further use of paper towels. It’s shameful.

For a while there I was really good about swabbing up a mess with old socks and stained dishcloths. But all the wringing out and the less than ideal absorbing power of said rags just became too much of a strain. I began to use more and more Bounty towels in my daily clean up.

This past weekend I had a bit of a breakdown. I was tired. I didn’t want to wash any more dishes. Ever. So we ate off of paper plates. Sad. I know. Another tree felled just to avoid some dirty dishes.

The dirty dish fairy, in her drab brownish colored dress, still swooped down into our sink and deposited a stack of spaghetti stained plates and coffee splashed mugs. Not to mention loads of forks, spoons, and other assorted serving ware.

There still remains that moment, when all the dishes are sparkly clean, that a person can look into the sink and see the bottom. I love that moment. I just wish it would last a little longer. In this house that moment is just that- literally, a moment. Maybe if I stop buying groceries the sink would stay empty for a while longer.

4 comments:

Bethany Streng said...

don't feel bad. i occasionally eat off of styrofoam plates to avoid washing dishes. although, i don't think styrofoam comes from trees. but maybe i'm killing styrofoam plants!!! *gasp*

Rach said...

I will do your dishes if you sweep my floors!!!! ; )

Anonymous said...

Yeah, just this weekend Amy and I were bemoaning the task of dirty dish cleaning. Well...actually, we bemoan it every time we get together. As for that "bottom of the sink feeling" - I know exactly how wonderful that feeling is! I just don't experience it as often as I'd like. :)

Ceidra said...

By killing trees you are conserving water and all the energy and resources it takes to clean and pump it into your house and then drain it away.

Plus, we are planting more trees than we're cutting down, plus the tiny little bit of elevated carbon dioxide in the air is causing them to grow faster than ever. Don't worry about it. Better some paper plates than for your children to have to visit you in a padded room.

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