With most families who gathered during the holidays, an unspoken rule is that certain topics are prohibited.  It’s the same with the Atoms family.  But when Joy haughtily sauntered in, Ima was ready to break that tradition.
            You see, Joy Numm led the campaign promoting nuclear fusion – the joining, or fusing of atoms - to generate electricity.  In the lab, scientists had recently succeeded in creating more energy through fusion than it took to run the test.  This was a huge breakthrough prompting Joy’s superior attitude.
            Ima Splitter, on the other hand, advocated using fission – the splitting apart of atoms – to produce electricity.  This technology has been successfully generating electricity for decades, notwithstanding issues concerning cost and the problem of radioactive waste.
            The two were eyeing each other across the room when Great Grandmother Atoms clinked her spoon on her sherry glass (atoms use spoons??) drawing everyone’s attention. “Welcome All!  As I’m sure you’ve heard, we lowly Atoms have recently gained some prominence in the human media.”  She smiled and nodded slightly toward Joy.  Ima’s electrons fumed! 
            “Humans are awakening to the reality that the fossil fuels they have relied on for decades need to be significantly curtailed in order to avoid severe environmental and health consequences,” Great Gram continued. “We applaud their work to increase efficiencies and expand the use of wind, solar, geothermal and other clean energy sources.  Nevertheless, most experts agree that 10 - 20% of their energy will inevitably have to come from some baseload source.  If it’s not to be coal or natural gas, then battery storage and nuclear are the most likely candidates.” The room erupted in applause while Joy and Ima maneuvered themselves to a quiet corner to have the showdown they both were relishing.
            “You’re the reason for the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters.  No wonder folks are looking to me for a safer clean power source,” Joy spat. “Oh sure,” Ima shot back, “I suppose you’re going to waltz in and save the day.  Haven’t you heard the old joke that economical fusion power is only ten years away?  That joke’s been around for decades!”
            “Girls, girls!” Great Gram interrupted.  “We can have this conversation without all the drama.  Let’s continue this next time because these are critical issues here on the only home we’ll ever know.  After all, it’s where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”

            Baby ’23 gripped the slats of her crib.  Her eyes followed Old Man ’22 as he shuffled back and forth sorting papers and file boxes.  The elderly gent glanced at the “year-glass.”  Very few grains of sand remained.  “Got to set you up for success,” he mumbled with his back to the infant.
            “I guess I haven’t done a half-bad job,” he continued.  “Seems like most folks have awakened to the reality that Mother Earth needs quite a bit more TLC if folks expect to continue enjoying all the gifts she’s provided for them.  Then turning to the tiny ’23, “So I’ve got a few things to leave with you.  I hope you’ll consider using them.”
            He cleared a place in front of the crib and hoisted up three large boxes.  They were labeled: Geo & atmospheres, Biodiversity and People.  Then he set a large mixing bowl next to them.  “Folks have mostly kept these three things in separate boxes.  People usually think of nature (Geo & atmospheres and Biodiversity) as ‘out there’ somewhere, separate from people’s homes and cities.  But actually, they are all just different aspects of the same thing and are inseparably intertwined.  Anything that happens to one affects the other two.  Together they combine to create that mysterious, complex web of life on Earth.
            “So your challenge, young lady, is to get these concepts whisked together in folks’ minds.”  Then reaching to the top shelf he brought down a large tray labeled “Essential Components.”  From it, he removed a number of vials.  They included: Clean Energy, Healthy Diets from Sustainable Farming, Circular Economies, Urban and Transportation Planning, Equitable Health Coverage and Social Protections, Training and Education, and finally Water and Energy Access for All. 
          “There you go, young lady. These Essential Components will help guide you in whipping up a delightful mixture of pulsating life on Earth for all creatures. Of course you won’t be able to accomplish everything in your brief 365-day trip around the sun.  But you have all the pieces necessary to build on the modest gains our predecessors and I have begun.
           “I’ll be going soon.  Best wishes for a successful venture,” the kindly fellow smiled, “because we really must succeed.  What other choice do we have?  This is the only home any of us will ever know.  It’s where we’re all forever …Earthbound.”