The best soil around us contains about a gazillion living creatures called microbes and macrobes. The microbes are too small for us to see. But macrobes are bigger, like me! Some macrobes that are good for soil are beetles, centipedes, ants, burrowing frogs, and earthworms. They are “beneficial.” In fact, did you know that I am considered a “beneficial” insect? That makes me proud!

I don’t know how old I am. But I do know that I am likely to be jumping around and eating bugs for a year or so. That’s NOTHING compared to plastic! Did you know that plastic stays around for up to a thousand years! Wow! That means every plastic bottle or cup that we throw away just stays and stays. No wonder our landfills are getting full and our oceans are filling with plastic debris. Something to think about.

I sure like being with my friends! And I found a way to spend even more time with them. What is it? Carpooling! Yes. If we are going to the same event, I pick up the phone and ask, “Do you want a ride?” They almost always say, “Yes.” And there we go. We have fun at the event, and we have fun riding there and back. And, guess what? We save gas, and we save on air pollution. Wins all around!

The perfect Christmas gift. What is it? Well, I have a great idea for you. It is called a Do Together Gift. When you replace a “thing” gift with a Do Together Gift, you have the fun of spending time with the people you love. What is something that you would like to do with a family member? Write it on a card, and give that as your gift. You cut down on clutter and more stuff. And you give the very best gift of all: YOU!

Nine year-old Milo Cress has alerted us to the damage plastic straws do to our environment. Wow! Smart kid! He loves wildlife and sea life so much that he has started a campaign to reduce their use. Do you always need one? No. But you probably always get one. So this is a shout out to support a “straws upon request only” policy at your favorite restaurant.That will go a long way toward cleaning up our beautiful earth!