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I Liked it Better When...

by KATHRYN BOUGHTON

I could lie in the grass, looking at clouds, with no fear of tick-borne diseases.

When the feel of sun on my skin didn’t presage the threat of cancer.

When contrails in the sky were intriguing invitations to distant travel and not a reminder of pollution being dumped in the atmosphere.

When the world wasn’t melting or burning to a crisp; when the air was fit to breathe and the water safe to drink.

When we didn’t carry the world’s bad news in our pockets.

When we still believed our food sources were infinite and that oceans were too vast to be damaged.

When alien “critters” weren’t hitchhiking around the world, destroying native species.

When we were taught our country was one nation, united in purpose and, naively, still believed in the goodness and wisdom of our governmental leaders.

When we saw America’s role as that of peace maker.

When the cop on the corner was a symbol of security.

When the “grass” we harvested was meant for cows.

When social discourse required proximity to another human being.

When America did not immerse itself in ear-numbing noise and aimless violence to be entertained.

When kids and dogs were free to roam their neighborhoods being kids and dogs.

In other words, I liked it better when Dick and Jane still lived on Cherry Street.

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