John Powers said, "October 15th is Blog Action Day. Thousands of bloggers are writing about one subject: the environment."

I missed that day -- of course. I am ALWAYS late to the party and sometimes, I miss the party altogether, even though I loved the girl, and told her I would be there. Memory is no indicator of intelligence.

I been thinking about writing about the environment for a long long time. It's kind of a shame that I missed my opportunity.

I grew up in towns all my life, so I don't guess it matters much anyway, whether, or not, I write about the environment, or even think about it.

Truth be tole, I don't think about the environment very much -- not in any regular day-to-day sense. This is not because I am a townsman, although that surely is one of the reasons I am separated from my environment

I mean I know who Al Gore is and all. I even read that old book by Rachel Carson, but I just never had much truck with the out-of-doors. I'm an indoors kind of a guy. Matter-of-fact, I'm one of the environment's worst nightmares.

I pollute. I consume. I discard. Maybe not in that order. I mean I got a toilet, don't I? Don't get me wrong: I recycle my cans and such. I use my compact fluorescent light bulbs and dispose of my cat litter properly.

But still . . . I consume and I waste. I know that I consume and waste. I think about consumption and waste, especially when I get my electric bill, or I am vilified by ALL YOU good ones out there. Some times, I even feel guilty.

I know most environmentalists were hall monitors in grade school. I know ya'll goody-two-shoes are all going to Heaven, while the rest of US drown in our own sewage. I appreciate being reminded that we gotta save the planet, but I gotta confess I shut down, mentally and spiritually, when I get scolded, just like I did in second grade when the evil Mrs. Wolfe, spanked me for speaking.

I need help, not a lecture. I need grace, not blame. I need love, not exacerbated anger and impatience.

Wanna help? Then help ME, do not turn me into a villain.