I am thankful for kids who realize that the environment affects our lives and our lives affect the environment. Recently, especially this weekend, an influx of tourists have hit our local beaches. Of course, most of us are very thankful for seeing business grow. The last couple of years have not been good for the local economy. However, if this weekend is any indication it seems that lots of people who have not taken a vacation with the family in the last few years are getting out again. That’s a good thing — I think.
But, with tourism on the mend, it seems that we need more education about taking care of the environment. Actually, visitors to our little community began arriving early in the week. It is always fun to make new friends. And, it is easy to appreciate the fact that most of them are wanting to see the ocean — some for the first time — while others just want to escape the day to day life of home for a week or so.
Ordinarily, most of the teens would be interested in listening to the music, making new friends for the week, and getting toasted by the sun. I suppose there will be those again this year. However, our local kids are taking a very active approach in getting the new arrivals educated about our environment. Perhaps, it is a bit easier this year because of the oil spill in the Gulf, although none of us can really appreciate the overwhelming problems there. No matter how much time we spend watching the news, we all embrace a sort of detachment from the reality of the situation.
That’s the thing about disasters, natural or man made. Maybe television has ruined us emotionally. While the flood of news keeps us informed, many of us have become somewhat immune to really caring. We see the images of the oil spill on tv and say something like, “isn’t that terrible?” or “someone has to do something.” Well, yeah. But, we know that we cannot all rush to the Gulf to do something. And, if we did most of us would not have a clue about what to do.
The kids get it. They seem to understand that the oil is out of the well, so to speak. And, while the world anxiously awaits the stopping of the constant flow of oil from the well, the kids understand — or seem to understand — that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For those accidents that may not be avoidable, preparation is the key. What the young ones are learning is that when it comes to our very fragile eco-system, we must first care for our environment, protecting it from disasters. But, if and when disaster strikes, we must be prepared to deal with it.
I have been surprised to hear the teens talking about the oil spill. One said that the according to what he had heard, it wasn’t supposed to happen. Well, no accident is supposed to happen. But, if there is one thing we all know it is that Murphy’s Law is a dominant force in the world. That’s not a negative statement. It is just an admonition to be prepared. Think ahead. Plan ahead. Prepare. Take action.
Education is the key. Of course, anyone who reads my thoughts on gratitude knows that I am a believer in education. But, all education does not come from books. Education comes from experience and a hands-on approach. Apparently, some of the local kids get the idea. Instead of setting up volleyball nets all up and down the beach, some of the kids have taken on the role of tour guide and educator. I’m guessing that is why I am out of lemons and lemonade. Our house seems to be the rest stop as the kids go up and down the shoreline.
Anyway, the local kids gathered up a bunch of the newcomers yesterday and took them on a tour of the beach. Now, let’s not get too serious. The kids are playing. But, as they roam up and down the beach to the old Revolutionary War fort not more than a mile from here and back, the locals are explaining berms, the grasses, erosion and showing pictures of the trash that washed up on shore during the past week. In fact, they are having a beach clean up this afternoon. And, let me be clear! These local kids are smart. They are enlisting the help of the tourist kids. And, everyone seems to be enjoying the experience.
The payoff will come tonight at a big cookout. Local or tourist, everyone enjoys a night on the beach, singing and dancing, eating and making new friends. I grew up here and I know that some of these friendships will last no longer than a week, maybe two. I know that next year this time, names will be forgotten and vague memories will linger as the faces fade from our minds. But, I also know that some of those kids will remember the lessons learned this week and perhaps — just perhaps — some will remember that we are not separate from our environment, but a part of it. For those kids, I will forever be thankful.
