EARTH DAY: Putting The World On Wheels: 1969

I wrote this little fantasy piece in 1969, after spending time in Detroit, erstwhile car capital of the known universe. I spent a day with some designers and engineers at Chrysler and came away with the idea that what these guys really wanted was a problem they could sink their teeth into. They presented themselves as practical problem solvers for the consuming public. I wondered what they might do if given a chance at tackling a real enigma. What might be more worthy than to save our planet? The concept of all the people on this planet coming together to save the planet seems silly and childish. Some people understand, but too few. Even in the 1990s just picking up candy wrappers from the elementary school yard took much effort. Back in the 1960s few could see the potential of planetary warming. Alternative modes of energy and an awareness of global issues were not yet on the horizon. Problem solving was equated with the creation of new money streams.

Around the same time, papermaking and book arts were starting to catch my attention. Maybe I could make an "Artist's Book," was the inspiration for putting my day amongst the engineers to paper. After writing it, I tried a few times to illustrate it. But illustration is not what I do. I set the story aside.

When my daughter was born, some eleven years later, I converted the story into a children's theatre piece. The play, like the story was never published or performed. The play was put away.

When Lauren was in fifth grade, I helped her class create a play in honor of Earth Day. "World Tuneup" was the title. The students came up with their own script, small groups addressing problems, not with hot and cold, but the effects of pollution. The actual performance caused quite a stir, primarily because of the gigantic glowing globe and special effects. This was also the first time a fog machine had been used in the school. The fog was intended to hover above the stage floor, lending to the illusion that the actors were hovering on clouds. Instead, the entire auditorium was engulfed in fog / smoke, floor to ceiling.

By the way, if you want, you can write your own script for a play based on "Putting The World On Wheels." As there are no words spoken other than the narrator's, you can make up your own characters and tell them what to say. The important thing is to help save ourselves by saving our home planet. Other than that, just make sure whoever runs the fog machine practices first.

Putting The World On Wheels: 1969

No one expected it. Everyone was surprised and confused. Our planet had abruptly stopped spinning around the sun.

Here it was midnight and the sun was still in the middle of a cloudless blue sky.

There it was noon and the blackness of the sky broken only by stars.

Our home planet sat still, was not rotating. There was no day and night. One was either on the side which faced the sun or the void of space. One day passed, then another. The sunny side became hotter; the dark side, colder.

Hotter and hotter. Colder and colder.

No one could get comfortable. On the hot side a Popsicle would melt away before you could touch it to your lips.

On the cold side, who would want a Popsicle?

On the cold side a steaming cup of hot chocolate would be a frozen block before the first sip.

On the hot side, well you can guess, can't you?

People from both sides came to the United Nations for help. Everyone agreed, something has to be done!

That's when the most brilliant engineers in Detroit came forward and agreed to put their minds together.

Designs were drawn.

Objects to defeat the heat and cold were created.

Gigantic school buses were built to pick up all the children who slept on the dark side of the planet, so they could go to school where there was light.

Air conditioned buildings were not enough on the hot side. Sometimes you had to go outside. Air conditioned suits were designed.

Unfortunately, only wealthy people could afford the buses or air conditioned suits.

People again asked United nations for help. A better answer was needed.

This time the greatest engineers in Detroit put their heads together and thought harder.

Blueprints and maps were flying around the air conditioned room. Plans were drawn and set into action.

Billions and billions and billions of tons of rubber were ordered and molded.

Gigantic rockets filled with zillions upon zillions upon zillions of tons of concrete were blasted into space.

Meanwhile, the world's largest steering wheel was being installed at the United Nations.

Even as all this was going on, the ultra large school buses were gathering every living person and creature and taking them all to the same spot on the planet.

An enormous tire had been attached to the Earth. The steering wheel was finished at the United Nations. And all the concrete sent into space had been formed into a road around the sun.

On a signal from the United Nations, all the people and creatures gathered together jumped at the same time.

They landed all at once with a teriffic THUD!!!, causing the Earth to again turn, to roll around the sun on its own.

(sigh............if only problems could be so simply recognized and resolved.)