Dear Congressman Mike Pence,

I am a resident of Indiana, a concerned citizen and a mother. For some time now, I have become increasingly concerned about the lack of toxic chemical regulations in this country. Each year, thousands of untested chemicals are released into our environment. Known carcinogens are routinely used in and around our homes and businesses. It is estimated that there are currently 82,000 chemicals readily available in our country to date. Only 200 of these have been tested for safety, and consequently, only five of these are restricted.

There is a growing movement among the United States to better control chemical usage. When surveying a map of participating states, I was disheartened, to say the least, that Indiana was not among those states passing legislation in 2011 against such things as: Cadmium & other toxins from children’s products, the use of BPA, and the excessive use of toxic flame retardants in both clothing and furniture. I would like to see Indiana included in the 30 states that care enough to protect the health and well being of American citizens.

I love my home in Indiana, and I don’t wish to move to another state to protect my children from contracting one of the many diseases associated with chemical exposure. I am sure you know several individuals suffering from diseases such as: asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune dysfunction, learning disabilities, or autism. I personally could list family members and cherished friends who struggle day to day with these disorders. Even as each state decides whether or not to allow specific toxic products to enter their markets, new chemicals are released nationwide, untested. It would be foolish to believe there is no connection between the increase in these diseases and the irresponsible use of toxic chemicals.

In researching this issue, I have discovered other areas in which the United States is lagging behind globally. We are behind in education, medical care, broadband (yes, access to technology is Important) and chemical regulation. Today the EU is leading in having passed REACH, which will help ensure the health and safety of the European peoples. Canada, China and other countries are rapidly following suit. If we are to compete in an increasingly level global market, the United States cannot ignore these issues. Toxic chemical regulation is a problem that would be best addressed on the federal level. If other countries are passing bans on harmful chemicals, will they bother to do business with a backwards (and sickly) USA?

Mike, thank you for taking time to read this letter. I am aware that like myself, you are raising two daughters. Women and children are the most vulnerable when exposed to toxins. I am asking that you consider the health of not only my children and grandchildren, but please, consider your own. Please support an overhaul of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act. Please consider legislating against the irresponsible use of toxic chemicals.

Sincerely,

M. Birklesniden

How did we meet?

Who remembers the first time we met? We live in a small-ish town. We even lived on the same side of town. There weren’t many blocks between our houses, while we were young. Perhaps we brushed arms in the many lines of waiting one endures in childhood- at the grocery, the skating rink, the park- anywhere really. But it wasn’t until we were awkward and adolescent that he becomes a part of my memory…

The movie theater: buttery popcorn smells, sticky soda pop floors, both of us in braces and me in a baby pink shirt paired with a denim skirt. A first “date”. It’s spring and the first year of high school. He hid behind the long hair obscuring his face. He hid in the x-large t-shirt and baggy, khaki pants. He didn’t talk. He seemed rather sweaty. Our friends were “going out”. They expected us to hit it off and keep them company (leave them alone) so their parents would allow them to go to the movies and hold hands during the film.

I liked her brother- not her boyfriend’s extremely shy friend.

Zak disappears and is not on the scene until:

Two years later & we’ve become friends. I should mention that at this time, I never called him by his first name. Everyone, on account of his long hair and looks called him “Jesus”.

Zak always seems nervous around me. His palms are sweaty. He had recently worked up the courage to ask me out. I even remember the day he walked on stage and saw- I’m dating (kissing) someone else…

Yes, we are in theater together. He dresses in drag for a slap stick production of “Cinderella”. A blue satin evening gown and borrowed bra. I helped him with his make-up. I looked into his eyes and thought how tired he looked. A transcript of those thoughts ran this way:

“He looks so tired. He almost looks very old inside… And wise. Who would fall in love with this tired, old young man? … I’m going to marry him….. !!!!!!!!!!! ……. !!!!!!!!! …….. Oh my God.”

End thoughts.

By this time his eyeshadow is a painfully ugly disaster. And my current boyfriend’s mother pulls him aside to undo the damage and redo the eyeliner.

He’s on his way to Thailand for a year long student exchange. Everyone goes out to dinner to say goodbye & I kissed him on the cheek, before I left. I had no idea that he remembered and thought about this for quite some time after. Even while on the other side of the world, I believe it made him blush.

That summer the tsunami hits southern Thailand. I had no idea he was further North. I can’t sleep and I wait on-line to hear if he’s safe and sound. Relieved to hear that night that he is still alive.

The end of my year long fling. I am resolved to be alone. Considering becoming a Buddhist nun- to travel far away from home. I say goodbye to my cat and most of my possessions. Maybe I’ll become an Au Pair, if I can’t learn Tibetan.

My sister moves back home. I take her out for coffee & Guess Who is Home.

He whirls around and points directly at me. He sweeps me off my feet and my green trench coat (& retro dress with a pink, purple & blue pixelated print) and his black trench coat swirl in a circle. We’re happy to see eachother- and we are inseparable. I ask him if we can hold hands. His hand is trembly and damp. But I clasp it firmly. And the next day we kiss. I am a senior, and he’s graduated. The same day he picked me up in his arms, he asks me to move to Washington with him. I laugh.

I know I’m in love, when we move out to Seattle together that summer, after I graduated. I had the flu for a whole week, and he stayed by my bedside nursing me.

My parents miss me so much. My father cries and we drive back to the Midwest. Roadtrips together are some of our best memories. The ocean. One summer day melting into the next. A long string of cuddling, traveling, sleeping, speckled with recollections of the odd places on the side of the road.

The next spring, when I am nineteen, we marry. It feels like we are playing house. We both want a baby and on our honeymoon, we make one ours. And the sadness and losses one suffers in life come, but we weather through the times that are rocky. And six years later, we are still rather young…

But a house, two children, a dog and paying bills old. He doesn’t shake or sweat anymore when I am near him. But even when he’s gone just long enough at work, I feel homesick for this young man. He is even, ever more my only home.

<3 Thank you, Desert Cottage, for the post idea <3

Four years ago, we were snowed in at the hospital getting to know our newborn, Molly Naomi.

Today we will be celebrating her 4th year, while this time snowed/iced in at home. We’re going to have a special craft day making homemade, scented play dough & finger paints!

Happy Birthday, my Panda girl! My Garbanzo Bean! My Pink Pixie Princess! You have such bright things to look forward to in year 4!

There are two things that get me through the dull months of winter: loads of coffee and seed catalogs. I take them both daily, and I often take them together! It wasn’t until we bought our house last Spring that the possibility of actually having a garden became real. That year was too busy to do anything more than throw a few neglected (but producing!!) tomato plants in the backyard. My tomatoes last year were both heirlooms. Despite embarrassing outright neglect, as in, we did not even stake them, they gave us an abundant supply of luscious tomatoes that were all the rage with our family and friends. I must confess that I’m focusing on the positive here. My little crop of fat German and Brandywine “girls” were in such disarray that it looked a bit like Sleeping Beauty’s castle all covered in impossible, ominous vines! It became so unkempt that I wouldn’t go in the backyard when the neighbors were out… But we did have  wonderful tomatoes that won me over… I’d never much cared for them until I grew some myself.

This year, hopefully, will be different than the last. After seeing the cover of Seed Savers, I was inspired to pick a theme for our foodie garden this year: RAINBOW!

One of my daughters has unfortunately inherited a “picky-ness” in eating from me. After reading that children are more likely to incorporate vegetables in their diet, if they are allowed to grow their own from seed, I was determined that that was exactly what BOTH my little girls need.

Seed catalogs come out in December (right when they’re most needed!).  Everyone told me I was thinking Spring, entirely too early. I requested 3-6 catalogs on December 1st. The winters in Indiana are usually too grey and too gloomy for my heart. Only in looking ahead to the warmer months do I survive. This year I only ordered catalogs that specialize in heirloom plants, since the heirlooms of last year seemed so forgiving.

I can’t wait to grow our heirlooms and edibles. It’s growing increasingly important to sustain a wider variety of plants to keep our garden heritage from becoming extinct. I’m also excited about supporting the local bee population… The bees have been devastated, and I have grown increasingly alarmed as the sweet little honeybees show themselves less and less. But when I do spot them on a patch of clover (DO COME SOON SPRING!), perhaps I appreciate them that much more.

On a lighter note, I’ll review the most memorable catalogs I received briefly below and tell you exactly what I ordered- and from whom!

Seed Savers:

The Seed Savers catalog was the first ordered and the first to arrive. I’ve drooled over this catalog before- this is my first year ordering! The front cover is unfailingly beautiful. The photographs are clear and pretty to look upon. I found that many of the vegetables I wanted to grow were to come from this company that specializes in saving seeds to otherwise endangered or rarer garden plants.

Ordering:

* Five Color Silverbeet (Swiss Chard)
* Carnival Carrots
* Blue Potatoes

Botanical Interests:

Very interesting selection! Many pictures are not photos, but that’s okay. It makes up for the lack of pictures in information. I love reading factoids! Especially when the plants date back to Medieval times.

Ordering:

* Bee Population Support Mix (definitely! gotta support those pollinators!)
* (and quite possibly) Butterfly Mix

Baker’s Creek:

Baker’s Creek Heirloom’s is probably my favourite catalog because it is the most beautiful. I’m a sucker for all things pretty. They have a great selection of seeds. The photographs of produce are brilliant! This is a high quality printed catalog. I ordered from them on-line, as many of their popular seeds were already quickly going out of stock. My seeds arrived in no time and included a bonus free gift. Isn’t that a nice gesture? Gee, I’d love to visit them in California!

Ordered (and Arrived!):

*Dragon’s Egg Cucumber

*Edible Shungiku Chrysanthemums

*Orange Brandywine Tomatoes

*Daddy’s Sunset (orange) Tomatoes

*Persian Red Love in a Mist

*+ a free gift packet of Gourmet Carrots (the fat bulb-y kind!!)

In the meantime, I content myself with the potted herbs in my kitchen, as well as the sweet little houseplants in our entry way. Brushing against the Basil while I wash the dishes in hot sudsy water warms me up and brightens my days.  Will I go overboard and in over my head as a result of a prolonged longing for Spring fever? Perhaps. Last year’s “garden” was dubbed “The Garden of Good Intentions” by a friend. This year’s will have to sleep awhile longer, until the sun makes its big comeback.

Love,

Mildred