Happy Earth Day

Today (Friday April 22, 2005) is Earth Day. And while Congress discusses sacrificing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil industry profits, at least some good things are happening locally.

Last night on the shuttle to CalTrain I guess a caterpillar was crawling on some woman's shoulder, much to the dismay of her seat-mate. Another woman 2 rows behind her took the invader off her shoulder with a pencil. The caterpillar fell to the floor which still seemed to bother the increasingly freaked out woman despite people reassuring her that caterpillars do not bite and generally turn into a butterfly.

Shortly before arriving at the station the caterpillar rescuer jumped up to get it off the floor. As the rest of us exited the shuttle, I noticed she had taken her new friend to a shrub to hopefully live out it's days safe from the feet of weary travelers.

I made sure to thank her for her efforts and let's hope her (and the caterpillar's) good karma continues today and throughout the week-end.

For another feel-good story, read Britta's tale of international parcel post.