How many times have you felt like this? I remember one Sunday when my hubby headed out to the grocery store for us. We had been bickering that day about a which one of us was right about something, so the tension was already high at the moment. He was stepping out to pick up some groceries and I said to him (in a nagging voice) “now don’t forget the reusable bags!”

To which he wheeled around and said (jokingly) “Not only am I not brining those bags, I am going to tell them to double bag everything!” Of course he came home with groceries in the perfectly reusable totes we own. But all kidding aside, I’ve been on both sides of the law here! And you?

Audi Super Bowl Commerical – You Tube

Hi Green Mama Friends!

So here is a nifty little first for this website, the opportunity to host a blog tour.

Elisabeth Corcoran is a writer, thinker, and a mom who lives in the Chicago area, far west, out in Elbun to be exact. She’s got a new book titled “He Is Just That Into You,” that recently released in November of 2009. She and I chatted a few months ago about some social justice issues and agreed to post this blog tour when her book released. So here are three few short Questions and Answers from Elisabeth.

The questions here are short and sweet. Lately I’ve been cornering people and asking them these questions. Not to put them on the spot, but because I, personally, so desperately want to live better, to be smarter, and to discover more about the people and world that we live in. So when I stumble upon an author, especially one who believes in God, I ask away. Here are the short questions and answers. Information on Elisabeth’s book is at the end of the post.

My questions are in black, her answers in red.

How have you seen or, how are you aware of the impact of our poor environmental choices have on the poor? Most of our ecological crimes overwhelmingly impact the poor and environmental stewardship, from God’s perspective is truly about a heart for people and for justice. So what do you see are the important things we need to know when engaging with issues of social justice and the impact the environment has on the poor?

This is an amazing question.  And far deeper than I can tackle intelligently!  But I’ll say this.  I think that when we allow our lives to intersect with those who are in need, whether it be locally or globally, we are more apt to be grateful for what we’ve got, and therefore, hopefully better stewards of what God provides for us.

Africa, what gives you hope? What is your passion for Africa? What is the story of your heartbeat for this continent?

What gives me hope about Africa is that I’ve seen firsthand sustainable, effective changes put in place to help those in need.  I’ve seen water filters, water wells, schools, churches, fishing ponds, AIDS support groups and AIDS awareness.  The hope isn’t so much that all poverty will be eradicated in our lifetime as it is that when people who love Jesus show up, He shows up too, and the combined influence cannot be stopped.  Light just keeps breaking through.

My passion is that those of us who live in suburban Christianity will leave our comfort and security, even if for a little while, and let God wake us up to a much bigger world.  I’m not saying I think every Christian should go to Africa, but I very much believe that God’s heart is for the poor and He wishes to use us to bring justice.  So even becoming aware can be a huge step for someone who has lived as if the earth drops off at the perimeter of the States.

How has your journey of social justice been shaped? What was the point on your journey when you said “hey, I need to pay attention to all of this because it matters to God?”

My story is way too long to go into here in depth.  So, the short version is that a few years ago, God broke my heart in a deeper way than ever before, and while it was broken, He stuck Africa and the AIDS pandemic deep down inside it, then put it back together.  Because I was so raw, and because the hard thing I was going through was justice related, it opened my eyes and my mind and I just knew I had to do something.  But I had no idea at all what that would end up looking like.  I talk a bit more about this in my book.

Which, you can find out more about here:

https://www.winepressbooks.com/product.asp?pid=2634&search=He+is+just+that+into+you&select=Keywords&ss=1

Thanks Elisabeth!

Elisabeth K. Corcoran

How to find Elisabeth!

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/search/

Type in Elisabeth Klein Corcoran

Twitter

http://twitter.com/ekcorcoran

Website

http://www.elisabethcorcoran.com/

Blog

http://elisabethcorcoran.blogspot.com/

Here in the Midwest where we live it is almost certainly winter. The ground is crunchy and brown with layers of leaves. The tree branches are bare. I can now see the intricate details of my neighbor’s back yards from our bedroom window. The decks and garages that are normally hidden by lush foliage all summer, are stripped of any protective canopy so I can now see all their deck chairs. This is actually more intriguing than it sounds, in a secret spy sort of way.

Last week we wore hats and gloves on the way to school. We’ve already had a hard frost. So yesterday, when the thermometer hit 70 degrees (which is 21 degrees celsius for all considerably cooler euro-types), I felt like my little soul came alive for one last flicker of summer.

If you live in a warm climate you are likely wondering what all this fuss is about. Easy for you, in February you can take your garbage out without your nose hairs freezing. You probably have no idea what it does to a person to be trapped inside because it is 20 below zero outside.

My warmer climate friends usually sigh this time of year and say “now it is really getting lovely here, this is why we moved here, for the winters. The balmy, mild winters.” No one ever says this about Chicago “now this is why I live here, February, the best 28 days of my year.”

Last winter, here in the windy city, we hit 22 below. We had over a week where it did not even reach zero.

So if you, like me, know that you are careening toward winter, and you are bracing myself for a miserable few months in quarantine, and then all of a sudden it is 70 degrees. You feel like you won the lottery. Or at lease the Showcase Showdown on the Price is Right.

So it was 70 yesterday. Indian Summer they call this. Over 70 after a frost.

And after having our house all closed up for weeks I ripped every window and door open that I could. I turned on some Jack Johnson while babies were napping. I started cleaning the house. It was Spring Cleaning in November.

And while I could have rejoiced in the fact that we played outside in short sleeves, walked places without jackets, and saw the sun, I was mostly excited to air out the house. This is how ridiculous my life has become.

The EPA reports that indoor air is some of the worst air that we can breathe. Worse than many of those smoggy days in the city. That right in our own, snug little houses we can be sucking down everything from formaldehyde, radon, carbon monoxide, dust mites, mold and mildew, gas, fumes from ammonia and bleach and a myriad of other little allergens. That indoor air quality can create health conditions from asthma, to endocrine disruption, to cancer. Our paint leaks chemicals from the walls. Our wood floors leak chemicals. Our carpets release chemicals.

Add to that the little H1N1 scare. The fact that when other kids come to my house to play they drool all over everything. They sneeze. They touch everything. They drop germs on the floor.

And of course, my own kids, spilling this, dropping that, making little smelly messes of their own.

After a few weeks of closed windows I start to panic.

So I ripped open all the windows yesterday. And for those of you who are able, I suggest you do the same. And while you are at it, consider making a few tweaks that will keep the air quality of your home stable once winter settles in. Ditch harmful cleaning products, make your own or look for natural, biodegradable products. A little vinegar smells pretty tart but saves your lungs in a way other products cannot.

Open the windows and doors as often as you are able. Be sure to have an adequate fan or ventilation system for your home. Check for mold and mildew. Think about every item you wash with or the packaging on what you purchase. Most contain chemicals that are after your lungs.

Hunkering down for winter, as cozy and hibernating-like as that sounds, can be one of the worst seasons for your lungs. As you hide away your shorts and t-shirts and pull out the elastic for holiday eating, make sure you take care of the unseen dangers that lurk as invisible clouds in your own home.

And as your last few leaves drop. Crack open those windows one last time. Breathe deep. Winter is coming.

I remember a trip to our local pharmacy last year. It was a few weeks before Halloween and my middle son, two and a half at the time, was toddling behind me through the seasonal aisle, en route to pick up a prescription. As I walked blindly past all the candy and odd accoutrements that accompany Halloween, he did not.

I was at the end of the aisle before I realized that he was no longer on my heels. My moment of realization came when I heard shrieks of fear and turned to find a trembling child who was face to face with a giant rubber witch. It was about three feet high and was designed to cackle when someone walked past. With a crinkled nose and a crooked smile it howled something like “watch yer step or else you’ll die.” 

And while I can’t remember her exact words, she definitely warned of death. 

Thankfully he was wearing a pull up!

He was upset. The rubber witch was bigger than him and for the first time, he’d come face to face with Halloween.

Now please know that I am not against Halloween. On October 31 we will be dressed up with the best of them, hopping from house. Stocking up on Pal Bubble Gum and Twizzlers.

And I will pull all the Bit-O-Honey’s out of their bag because I secretly love these odd candies and wait all year to eat them. Sort of like stale Peeps at Easter.

But lately I have been overwhelmed by Halloween. I was heading home the other night from a meeting and passed a street where no less than four houses in a row had Halloween lights in the bushes and on the house. It looked like Christmas.

On our street there are faux graveyards with floodlights splashing across headstones and giant spiders stuck to sides of houses. There are headless zombies on front porches and black cats dancing across windows and doorways. The amount of time, energy, and money that goes into Halloween is stunning.

I realize that I might sound like that cackling, grumpy witch at the moment. And it’s not that we don’t decorate for the season. We’ve got pumpkins and mums out. And that’s it. 

And my kids don’t seem to care. They’ve never asked for spiders the size of a Volkswagen to be glued to the side of our house. Actually, my oldest asked me the other day when Halloween would be over. Of course I asked him why he wanted to know.

He simply said, well Mommy, there’s lots of dead stuff all over and it gets a little scary.

He’s right. Looking at it from his six year old point of view, I could see what he meant. It’s scary when you don’t understand death or mummies or who Jason or Freddie Kruger are. When the Scream mask makes you, well, scream. 

And as a parent, I do my best to talk it through with him. We don’t turn off all the lights and hide. We give out candy. We wear Star Wars masks. But we also limit the chaos.

For lots of reasons. It’s a bit freaky for a kid. And it either trivializes or glorifies death and well, I’m not a huge fan of death. Bit-O-Honey’s yes. Death, not so much. And it spends a ton of time and money and resources and on things that maybe we don’t need. Maybe some of us do. But I feel like a few pumpkins and some natural ways to celebrate the season. A few window decals for the kids or a bat hanging in a tree might just do the trick. 

I get caught up on how much we spend on decorating for the holidays. Because now, Halloween, has become a biggie

According to the National Retail Federation’s 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, Americans will spend, on average,$56 on Halloween. The holiday as a whole is expected to kick 4.75 billion dollars into the economy. Over 1 billion of which is expected to go into decorations.

I just wonder if there is another way to approach the holiday. As the holiday that ranks second in spending only to Christmas, it seems perhaps we could do a little less spending and a bit more thinking. Then maybe we would not traumatize toddlers at the pharmacy or maybe we could funnel that money to fight some of the scary realities of our world rather than showcase them on the front lawn.

Just my .02 for the treat bag.

This past week I was walking home from the school drop-off with a newish friend. Swapping stories about the basics of our lives. Marital status, where we grew up, favorite pastimes. When it came time to exchange the details on all the places we lived before landing in our current community, a contrite little sigh slipped out.

“Well,” she exhaled. “We used to live in the city, used to live in Lincoln Park and then Rogers Park, but you know, it came time to move to the burbs once we had our second child.”

She was apologetic and somewhat remorseful about living in the suburbs. As if it was an embarrassing accident, a sly little secret that she occasionally let people in on.

This is the same groan I’ve heard from many suburbanites. Perhaps it is indicative of what many suppose is an unreflective life. It’s often assumed that if you have a suburban zip code that you’ve also lost the part of your soul that cares about issues beyond your fenced in backyard.

Last night I joined a wonderful and uplifting conversation in the city, in Lincoln Park to be exact. A room full of white, swanky 20-30 somethings. Young professionals who love that they can walk to the dry cleaners, pub, Whole Foods, and their favorite bistro. All good things indeed.

The conversation centered on global and local issues of living in true community, knowing neighbors, living in mixed race and mixed economic neighborhoods, advocating for the poor and the planet, living with family and changing culture. All amazing, worthwhile pursuits that, if accomplished, would enhance our world more than any policy handed down from Washington.

And while everyone was polite, there was an overwhelming sense that somehow, suburbia represented most of the issues we are facing today, from climate issues to gentrification. I spoke with an energetic gal who was giddy to have met me until she learned that I had commuted in from the suburbs for the event. She sighed a bit, smiled, and was done chatting with me in under a minute.

And as a defensive suburbanite, I could not help but notice the fact that the room was filled with a homogenous pile of people. All white, most wearing expensive clothing (designed to look like it was not). They had amazing thoughts and ideas so this is not to discredit them, it really was an insightful event. But Lincoln Park is a mostly white, affluent, and fairly transient community. It’s sort of an extension of college in many ways. And while most were happy to be there, and honestly, I would be happy to live there too, more than half of that crowd will have moved on to another place within 5 years.

When asked how many of them had moved in the past 3 years, 3/4 of the room raised their hands.

And I could not help but reflect on the fact that I, in my first suburban home (in the town I still live in), had more diversity than that entire room. An African-American family on one side, Polish immigrants on the other. A Mexican and Pakistani family across the street, and Irish family (the husband was actually from Ireland) behind us. When they moved out another African-American family moved in. The home we live in now (less than a mile away from the other) is different but not by much. We played last week with a family from Mumbai/Bombay who lives across the street. A Canadian lives next door to them. Up the street a Chinese family and another family of Indian descent. Elderly folks and newborns up and down the block in each direction. 

My hope is for the blaming and bashing of suburbia to end and the beginning of a truly reflective conversation to begin. It is possible to have rich experiences of community, mixed neighborhoods, and a concern for the world while living outside the city. I will be completely honest when I tell you that NONE of my suburban friends are careless or indifferent about the world or their communities. None of them.

They partner with their schools, local charities, they clean up parks, they walk everywhere that they can, they take the train, they take the bus, they know their neighbors, they make meals for people, they babysit one another’s kids. they do life together.

And I understand that you will find segregation, over-consumption, and ignorance in the burbs. This is not to excuse these behaviors. But we have to reach a point where we engage suburbanites in the conversation rather than simply sloughing them off as the impossibly ignorant over-consumers. Americans in general fit this description, not just those who chose the burbs. We need to see suburbia as a fertile field for change rather than the receptacle of all things thoughtless.

One last comment, when it comes to whole of urban/suburban life (where statistically 80% of Americans dwell) it seems that we consistently judge those who are farther out from the city. Most who live in the city shrug their shoulders at those in what David Brooks calls the inner-ring burbs. I live in the “inner-ring” where I can hop a train and do not see track housing, so I have snubbed my nose at those in the “exurbs”, in track housing without a train station. Those folks can look down on the people building the newest homes on the outer edges of urban sprawl. The ones who “stole” their view of the landscape.

The trick is to start looking in. To ask ourselves what is good about the city or the other suburbs and rural communities around us and start strengthening those things because they make sense, not because they are an urban or suburban thing to do. It’s more about making a commitment to live a life of community and connection wherever you are, not about a trendy loft or edgy coffee shop.

And ultimately, I hope the conversation is more about our love for neighbor rather than our disdain for neighborhood. For out of love the greatest sacrifices and commitments are made. Out of disdain we just further alienate and separate ourselves.