On Mother’s Day 2019, I wished readers oodles of hugs and kisses. Today, I’m asking you to think about what Mother’s Day means.

As a child, I remember preparing a paper plate art project for my mom.  Sometimes our teacher brought the supplies, so, we used dried macaroni, corn, and glitter.  Other times we made handprints in plaster and sprayed them gold. Along with the little-hands projects, we would carefully spell out, “I LOVE YOU.” Of course, we wrote big letters like we learned in first grade. 

At Sunday School, children also sparked their mother’s smiles and embraces when Bible verses were printed inside big hearts on folded construction paper outlined in lace. 

My only son remembers a special Mother’s Day when he was part of the elementary choir. Dressed in a fresh white shirt and jeans, he stepped down off the stage with all the other members and headed to their respective mothers in the audience.  He stood in the aisle next to me and handed me a fresh cut red rose. Recently, he told me, “We weren’t supposed to hug; but you reached to hug me, and I didn’t know what to do.”

On reflections, I’m sure I hugged him, but he quickly raced back to his place on the stage.  I also remember that I teared up. I was so proud of him then and am even more proud of him now as he aced his recent college semester. 

There’s another mother needing our hugs today—Mother Earth!

The way I am giving Mother Earth hugs today is to continue my goal to use less electricity and gasoline. I don’t drive much because of current health issues. Nevertheless, my small car gets 41 mpg when its driven. An electric car is still a dream. Addressing my home’s natural gas usage, I had the Energy Resource Center over a few years ago for an energy audit. Thankfully, windows were sealed, doors sealed, and old model wall heaters were replaced by a commercial grade heater.  My footprint, on this lot with Blue Spruce and Quaking Aspens, is smaller even as I maintain a comfortable 62-65 indoor temperature. 

Most days, I stay away from plastic water bottles and plastic dinnerware, too.  If you want to know what happens to all the plastic when it falls onto Mother Earth, visit Sky News on your Smart TV to see the Impact of Plastics in our Oceans.  Facebook also has information as does YouTube.  NationalGeographic.com asks: Planet or Plastic.  On that site, Laura Parker writes the article: We MADE PLASTIC. WE DEPEND ON IT. NOW WE’RE DROWNING IN IT. In some reports, readers see how plastic has killed killer whales that mistake the bits in the ocean as small fish.  The issue is important to understand.

Another way I choose to honor Mother Earth is to help care for some of the feral cats and kittens that our SLV Cats Alive have trapped-neutered-released (TNR).  They need our donations and volunteer hours to care for these vulnerable creatures throughout our San Luis Valley.  Domestic cats are not made to be wild but have had to be wild because somewhere down the ancestry line a human turned the animal out. 

Join with me this Mother’s Day to be conscious of Mother Earth and make a goal of using less fossil fuel, less plastic and to donate to our animal shelters and especially to SLV Cats Alive (719-298-7028). 

Kisses and hugs to all the moms in our world. 

Nelda Curtiss is a retired college educator and long-time local columnist. Reach her at columnsbynellie.com or email her at columnsbynellie@gmail.com.