PICKING UP TRASH IN THE RAIN ON WILBETH ROAD

 

I went out for my three-hour session at 9:00, and it was raining.  I was okay with that.  I had on my raincoat.  Unfortunately, I realized raincoats don't breathe.  I was so HOT!  And picking trash out of briars does not work either.  I ripped my pretty raincoat to shreds!

I realized a couple of other things today.  (Picking up trash gives you all kinds of time to think.) Baby diapers left out in the rain weigh about 50 pounds.  Those big bubble wrap bubbles sound just like a gun if you bust one on the sidewalk.  (Not doing that again!)

I didn't make it to the entrance ramp yet.  I went to a dumpster to get rid of my trash from last night and noticed Wilbeth Road is all messy again.  Didn't I just clean it?

Do you think the people in Akron heard I was cleaning other cities?  And they thought I wasn't busy enough here?  I picked up 2,548 pieces of trash this morning, including this playground.

When I see a big mess, I think, "I can't clean that."  But I can.

I can pick up 60 pieces of trash in one minute!  In the time it takes me to think I can't, it's already done.

Today, I picked up baby diapers, Depends, condoms and dog poop.  If I didn't get paid so well, I would resign from my position as Akron Woman Picks up Trash . . . but wait, I don't get paid anything, so I can't resign!

And I don't want to.  Every day is an adventure if I keep my positive attitude.  

I am trying to make a difference.  (The jury is still out on that.)

I sure didn't expect to see this little cutie at the playground.  Last summer, she was a newborn.  Now, she wanted to help.  Unfortunately, she was only as tall as my trash grabber!  Maybe next year.

I gave her a branch with leaves on it, and she waved it around like a flag.  I would have gotten more picked up this morning, but I had to stop and play with my new little friend.

Her mother was telling me that she was cleaning out her car, and the little angel locked herself in the car.  She broke the back side window to get her out.

As I left, I saw the mess around the dumpster.  Last summer, I cleaned all around the dumpsters, but I'm not doing that anymore.  

I would think the people who live here would either complain louder, or clean it up.  If I keep doing it, nothing will change.

I'll clean the sidewalks and the playgrounds for the children, but I won't touch the garbage around the dumpsters anymore.

I'll try to get to the entrance ramp this afternoon.