Bruce “Pop Pop” Johnson recalls the moment climate change became real to him.
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The name is Bruce Johnson, III, but you can call me “Pop-Pop.” I was born in North Carolina during the year 1934. I’ve seen some things, many things in my lifetime.
A few years ago while visiting my grandchildren back in Mississippi a movie came on the television called “The Day After Tomorrow.”
I had never heard of the film before, and was finna change the channel to watch Judge Judy when my youngest grandson, Augustus, begged me to leave it on and watch it with him.
I sat with my jaw on the floor the entire time; I couldn’t believe what I was watching. New York City, the place where I got my break as a tap dancer in the early 50’s, looked like the Grand Canyon frozen over. I was so terrified I bought a fire place for my living room; bedroom, kitchen, and the bathroom … yes the bathroom; you just never know; I’ve seen some things, many things in my lifetime.
I was just starting to think that movie was a bunch of hog wash, that no city would ever be frozen over, or experience extreme weather that would shut down operations. Then Philadelphia’s #WitchyWinter happened, and my worst nightmare came true—snow and ice everywhere; everyday!
City workers did their best to salt the streets; I guess I’m grateful for that. But at the same time, that doggone salt cost me a couple hundred dollars on repairs to my ‘78 Cadillac. One day while driving down Ridge Avenue I ran over a pothole the size of Texas! Needless to say my 2 front tires got busted, and my alignment was thrown in all sorts of directions.
Now I’ve seen some things, many things in my lifetime; but I have never witnessed any salt causing potholes so big you could fill them up with water and take a bath. I went and got the doggone replacement tires and had my oldest grandson, Bobert, put ‘em on.
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One Sunday after church I took old Gertrude—that’s what I call my car—out for a drive around town. It was then I realized these wretched potholes were all over the city, and it is costing drivers—and I’m sure taxpayers—an arm and a chicken leg to pay for the damages. I know it may sound selfish, but because of the trauma to old Gertrude, I want to become more aware about how climate change is causing extreme weather and what I can do, if anything, to help out.
I love to recycle—as a matter of fact I’m wearing the same drawers I had on yesterday—but I realize now recycling alone ain’t gonna help me, or old Gertrude.
If an old dog like me can learn new tricks, so can you! Join me in making the pledge to care for Earth as we would our children. Remember, it’s our Earth, and what we feed it, it’ll feed us in return.
Thanks for reading, Until next time, I’m Pop-Pop & I always got something to say!™
DOWNLOAD NOW: Minding Climate Change: A Call to Action!
Source: TBO Inc®
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Photo: vagawi/Flickr