Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested... (on being Green)

[frazzled]

6. My mother and mother-in-law were children of the Depression ...

My mother always turned out the lights as she was leaving a room (still does), kept the furnace at the lowest possible setting that would keep us warm, and only let us use a few inches of water our baths (you should save water! she would tell us). And heaven forfend if you should stand in front of the refrigerator with the door open: you're wasting electricity! she would scold us.

My mother-in-law used to wash and re-use the plastic bags from the store that vegetables come in ... and use them again! Every little thing was saved and re-used, including pieces of aluminum foil.

I think my generation (I was born in 1950) rebelled against these endless scrimpings and savings of our mothers. As soon as I got away from home I used to fill the tub up with hot water to my neck. Later, as my kids got inculcated into the "green" movement at school, I began to change again: recycling everything, trying to use less electricity, etc.