Just a thought

by David Safier

Until a few years ago, reusable shopping bags were for weird old ladies. It seemed like a pretty strange idea to me, I have to say. I certainly wouldn't use bags like that when paper was so much easier.

Then reusable bags became a craze for people who were dedicated environmentalists. It was all right for them, because they were willing to devote themselves to the cause, but for the rest of us . . . I mean, who could remember to take those bags with you to the store, and where are you going to put them after you put away the groceries?

Tonight I lifted three heavy, reusable shopping bags filled with Trader Joes groceries out of my car with ease. I picked them up by their sturdy handles, unafraid the bags would rip or the bottoms would fall out. What would have taken me two careful trips into the house with paper was managed in one easy tote. I emptied the bags and threw them back in my car (Sometimes I hang them on the garage door until I'm ready to take the car out again).

Reusable bags, which seemed weird-old-ladyish, then environmentally holier-than-thou, turn out to be eminently practical and hassle free. My life is slightly better because of them.

How many other little changes like this, which can actually make an environmental difference if they're multiplied by millions of people, are we foolishly resisting? It wasn't too long ago when the idea that people would actually separate recyclable items and put them out in plastic bins seemed like a pipe dream.

We (and by "we," I mean "I") can be idiots sometimes.