WHO’S THAT OLD BAG? by Renee Sklarew
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Sklarew graduated from Indiana University and studied social work at Catholic University. Throughout her childhood she lived in seven states and two foreign countries, ultimately settling in her hometown of Washington, DC. Her motto: “You can take the girl out of Washington, you can’t take Washington out of the girl,” explains her passion for politics. Married with two girls; her oldest, Allison, received a heart transplant eight years ago. An essay on their family’s time in the hospital will appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul Power Moms in March 2009.
I’m in line at the grocery store, and everyone’s avoiding me. I am one of those people who slow the line down by asking the cashier to use bags I brought along. Normally I find someone like me annoying too. Still, I would rather be a social pariah than waste those plastic bags. Seeing them metastasizing in the outdoor bins. Where do they go? What use do they have? Are they really made into sandals or roads like they say?
This small effort to recycle has become a source of shame for my nine-year-old. She cringes when I explain to anyone who will listen, that I like to reuse my bags. A lot. That’s my tiny contribution to protecting the environment, and wouldn’t it be nice if everyone made that effort?
The nine-year-old pulls on my arm with embarrassment. “Don’t talk about it, Mom,” she begs. Maybe it would be less obvious that I am holding everyone up, if I actually kept my mouth shut. But that’s not likely, since my days as a cashier are permanently embedded in my memory. I refuse to treat people the way some people do, making you feel anonymous and devalued. It’s against my principles, so I basically have to have that conversation. What else can we discuss, besides the weather? Describing our position on bags is a great ice breaker.
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Renee and daughter Danielle
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As the pre-Thanksgiving crowds pushed through the store, I asked my favorite Safeway cashier Helena Funt, about people who ask to reuse bags. She says, “Customers want you to put a lot in, but they don’t want the bag to be too heavy. That can be hard.” There’s always a line to have Miss Funt process your groceries, because she is efficient and tries to honor every request. “Customers tell me – I look for you, because you can pack it perfectly,” she laughs.
Last year, legislators in my home state of Maryland decided not to pass a law that prohibits distributing plastic bags at retail outlets in that area. The inspiration behind the bill was to curb the problem of bags polluting the Chesapeake Bay. Fortunately, it brought to the citizens’ attention the basic question of paper or plastic? What is truly better? The truth is neither. Just bring your own, and no one will get hurt.
For the sake of my little girl, if others join in, her mother won’t seem nearly as weird. We would also contribute to the friendliness factor at the grocery store. Eventually, people waiting behind you won’t get as frustrated waiting for this anomaly to occur. Furthermore, we might hasten impending doom promised by scientists working their little hearts out to slow down global warming. See how easy it is to make a small difference?
So today, when you leave the house, take an extra bag to the store with you. Start a revolution!
