I need to talk about this coming EARTH DAY this Wednesday, April 22.It will be the 20th anniversary of when my daughter, Amy Rae, who was just 7 at the time, started up her own recycling business, and ended up in New York city, as a special guest of the UNITED NATIONS, to give a toast to MOTHER EARTH,on behalf of all of the children in the world,as I stood proudly at my little girl's side, with a huge lump in my throat. We had just moved to Saskatoon that past August,1989,as we "had to" quit farming, so we were starting life all over again, which was not easy, as farming was not just a job, but it was a way of life. But we managed. The bike that was to be Amy's that spring, had been stolen from the back yard-we were sure not prepared for that part of city life! So Amy was told that it would be a great idea, if she could come up with a way to make some money for another bike.She decided to pass out fliers, to advertise her new business, which was every Tuesday after school, she would go house to house(I was to drive the family car)and for 5cents,yes, just a nickle,she would pick up their paper products,and deliver them to the big SARCAN depot.I know a nickle was kind of cheap, I was hoping some of her "customers" would give her abit more, but the entire operation was Amys ideas, so I did not say anything, just supported her any way I could.Long story short, all kinds of news coverage happened, all across Canada, t.v, radio,news papers, she was everywhere!It lasted for well over a year, the trip to the UNITED NATIONS happened twice, as she was named as AMBASSODOR FOR CHILDRENS PUBLICATIONS the second trip, she was very popular for a long time, it was a very busy time, and she was soo young!That was 20 years ago,this week.I often wonder if anyone remembers her, remembers that she pretty much started the entire recycling/save the planet back then.Sadly, my Amy died September 11, 2002, from a rare type of cancer.I miss her more than any words could explain.I have written a book, but I have no idea what to do with it!The book was started about G.b.s, my survival of it, and all that took place for the 4 months I was in the hospital, and beyond, alot of pages were written, all pencil on fresh paper, my favorite way to put my memories down.Yes, I sure could use a publisher! Anyway, just needed to share that about my Amy. Happy Earth day to all of you!

Wow, Mary -- what a clever little girl at age 7 to think up something like that! Glad she got the recognition she deserved!

I can't help wonder (I'm sure you have a thousand+ times) what she would be doing now, had she lived.

Happy Earth Day to you, too! Thanks for sharing. I am in awe.

Thanks,twinkletoes for your kind words about my Amy.The amazing thing about my strong-willed child, was that no matter who she got to meet-John Travolta,Kurt Browning,Raffie the childrens singer,a room full of Astronauts and Cosmonauts, or being on the t.v. show called FRONT PAGE CHALLENGE, or being the grand marshall of the Saskatoon parade,she never let it go to her head. I remember her grandpa asking her how she was feeling about going to New York, and the United Nations, and meeting so many V.I.P's, and she said to him"but grandpa, I AM a V.I.P!I wish she was still with us, she had the biggest hopes and dreams, loved animals, especially horses, one of her dreams was to own a huge ranch in Montana, and build a big log house. Another was being a Vet. Then there was a race car driver, and becuse she had beautiful,long hair-with huge brown eyes-she decided to see about being a hair model, for shampoo commercials! As you can tell, I could talk about her forever, she did more living in her 20 years, than most of us do in a lifetime, almost like she knew she would not be here for long.I have a huge trunk- load of memories, and need to get it all organized, into a big scrapbook. I have 2 remaining daughters, and one is married, and gave me 2 grandsons these past 2 years. I just found out, when my daughter was further along in her pregnancy, that before she died, Amy she was asked to pick out a name for her sister's first child, one to fit a girl or a boy-she decided the name should be "Rayne", Rayne Cody turned 2 in December,and he has many of his late auntie Amy's mannerisms, makes a person really wonder.Out of my 3 girls,Amy was the one most like me. I am sure she is an Angel now,keeping an eye on all of us.But the world has lost a wonderful human being, and I, my daughter.

I love the name Rayne! My littlest granddaughter (almost 1yo) is named Summer Rayne Knight.

Besides today being Earth Day, and missing my Amy because of it, tomorrow will be even harder, as it is Amy's birthday tomorrow, may 23, and she would have been 27 years old. I still wonder why I had to live, and she did not.