I'm 59, a grandmother who proudly showed my son as a toddler the clear streams on woods walks many years ago. During those years, we had fun sipping from gurgling pools. He raised his teenager with the Scouts, and cautioned me at a mountain river July '01, mistaking my dousing my hair and face to cool down, for intention to drink, hopping boulders back to remind me not to. It was then I learned an animal could have fallen ill and died upriver, its body not yet discovered. I'd been with him shopping for camping gear, saddened by the mandatory filtration kits.

When his son was born, I was quietly following the research on this planet, and counted with those data that my grandson would be five when the window of opportunity closed. He is now 17.

Of all the political realities this year, those I cannot bear to read (beyond even Bush) are led by the black silence, defied figures, obvious proofs and this administration's refusal to publish our scientists' results and warnings. I cannot cope with the details, particularly when seeing another headline with global warming handled tongue-in-cheek.

To finally have a respected American leader stand against this profit-oriented coverup with carefully researched proof releases me from my Number One grief. I'm so glad I lived to see it. I've been doing my part a long time.

Loved this post, tolerford.

While I'm not too far behind you in age (54), and I'm not a grandmother yet (I've got a ways to go--had my kids late), I, too, raised my kids splashing in clear lakes and mountain waterfalls, hiking in untouched forests, tromping through open fields. When either one of them sees a new development going in, they start raging, just like their mom. It's a legacy I expect they'll pass on to their children when they have them.

I became a fan of Al Gore's way back in the '80s because he was the only politician on the national scene who was concerned about the environment. As I got to know more about him, I came to see that he's been right on just about every issue he's ever dealt with. The man is wiser and more intelligent and prescient than any other person I know.

We need him desperately, in whatever capacity he's willing to serve.

Your posting was just beautiful, tolerford, and I'm glad you joined your new friends on this forum. We share your grief and also your hopes. Write again!

Oh, and I'm also a boomer (58).