The Stories They Will Tell

Dear future family,

As I write this I picture my two young children at a time in their own lives when they are older than I am now. They are enjoying life with their children and grandchildren (& maybe even great-grandchildren!). They are preparing for the annual recognition of the historic time 85 years earlier when the world came together to turn the tide on the biggest threat to civilization that ever existed - climate change. Miles and Ila, now 91 and 88, retell the stories of our world leaders pledging to keep fossil fuels in the ground, invest in clean energy, and create a truly sustainable future. They'll share the names - Bill McKibben, James Hansen, Sandra Steingraber- and many others who are etched in the history books. But they will also tell the personal stories of how they attended meetings, made signs, and marched with their Mom and Dad in the streets of Madison, WI demanding, 'STOP Enbridge,' 'NO more tar sands,' 'Divest from fossil fuels NOW,' and 'INVEST in our future.' How they watched their Mom travel to NYC in 2014 to participate in the largest march for the climate in history (& how they helped make her a sign to take with her). They'll tell stories that seem funny to the youngest family members.....how people used to fill up their cars with gasoline, how homes were heated by gas and coal plants, and how we didn't yet have the ability to store wind and solar energy right in our homes. And at the end of the stories they'll pause to say their thanks to the strength and perseverance of the generations who came before them so that they could all be together in this moment. And then the evening will continue with the sounds of laughter and good food (sustainably grown of course!) shared at many family get-togethers.....my future family!!!!!

This is my biggest hope.....if it doesn't turn out that way, will there even be a future family to read my letter?