>2. I rode a motorcycle before I drove a car.

My brother and I learned to ride a mini-bike (50cc) and then an on/off road Suzuki 185 when we were in our early teens. The day I got my driver’s license, I took the test for my motorcycle temporary, and followed that with the regular cycle license soon afterwards. It came in handy. During the fuel crisis of the late 70s (hmm, sound familiar?) I was filling the tiny tank much less often than my friends were filling theirs. I actually saw more of my paychecks from my summer jobs because it took so little gas to run my “wheels”.

So when Husband insists he’s getting convertible and calling it his “midlife crisis,” I counter with the statement that when he gets his convertible, I’m getting my Harley. We’d have a lot of fun following each other down the highways!

>#1: I believe in the three Rs, with a twist. This one is TRUE.
Reading, and Writing (‘riting) and Math (‘rithmetic) are the basis for many learning skills. However, the three Rs to which I refer are actually Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

My family likes to tease me about my penchant for reusing instead of throwing things away. I don’t hoard junk (at least I sure try), but I re-use a lot. For example, I haven’t bought file folders in years. I often run copies for my class on the backs of old, unused papers. And yes, I buy from used book stores and clothing consignment shops, as well as donate our no-longer-usable clothing and household items to local thrift stores.
I recycle a lot, too. On the rare occasion when we order a pizza delivered, I will recycle all parts of the box that did not touch food particles. Tissue boxes? Tear out the small piece of plastic and recycle the rest. Finish off the cereal? Recycle the box, compost the inner wax paper lining.
Compost is another form of recycling. Grass clippings, food scraps (within limitations), coffee grounds, and more, will end up in the compost bin instead of the garbage can. Seeing the natural process of decomposition and knowing that I’ve contributed in a small way to lessening landfill use is very, very satisfying. Tilling the finished compost into my small garden in the spring is a part of this. We’ve reused that which we recycled, and in the end we’re reducing our purchases of vegetables trucked in from elsewhere, which reduces… well, you get the picture.
Think globally, act locally. It works.