Outdoor activities

As we wait for the Covid vaccine to reach more arms and for the arrival of Spring, there is not much color in the garden right now to write about. My daughter, Blair Knies, gave me an idea one recent day. She started telling me how good she felt because she and her friend and neighbor, Robin Tenney, had been out picking up litter in their neighborhood. She said they did this nearly every Wednesday for about an hour and a half or more. She said they did this for themselves as well as for their community because it gave them a sense of making a difference during this distressing time of covid. A wonderful excuse to get outside to combat covid boredom. Note, however, that they have been picking up litter for sometime, even before covid times.

They survey several streets adjoining their neighborhood and choose the one (or more) that needs the most attention. They usually fill three or four big bags which they haul back to their own homes and dispose of. By the way, they have been doing this on streets that I sometimes travel and I have often wondered who keeps them clean as I have traveled on them when the litter was abundant and then, bingo!, the streets (and sometimes the area beyond the street’s fence line) are litter free. Yet, there are no signs saying a group has adopted the roadway. (What a pleasant surprise it would have been had I happened to see my own daughter doing this work!)

I am so proud of her and her friend. I am sure there must be others doing similar volunteer litter pick ups. Please let me hear from you! You are so appreciated. And, if you are among those bored at home for something to do during these stressful times, think about how the fairly simple act of going out into your neighborhood, walking the streets, and picking up litter as you go, can make you feel good about yourself and even find something good to say about covid as it motivated you to do a commendable service for yourself and others. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Written by Martha Knies