MY BLOG POST IS VERY DIFFERENT TONIGHT

 

My blog post is very different tonight.  There are no pictures of trashy areas before and after I clean them.  There are no pictures of broken glass or nails or needles.  You will only see pictures of Henry & Stella in Columbus, enjoying the beautiful weather.

I went to dinner with my friend Tom on Friday night.  We had a wonderful time until we were driving back home.  He is a terrific man, and he has been picking up trash in Akron for many years.  I am so proud to be his friend.

But driving home, he pointed out every trashy exit ramp as we passed it.  I don't know why he thought I couldn't see the litter.

I don't think it does any good to complain about the litter in Akron.  It doesn't do any good at all.  I know two things:

We can't stop people from throwing trash out of their car, and we can pick it up.  That's all I know.

I haven't picked up any trash for six days.  I've been very busy with a work project, and now it's done.  I'll go back to picking up trash tomorrow.  My numbers are good.  I'll still reach my goal by spring.

This morning, I drove to two areas in Akron that I clean every week.  The first one was clean, and the second one was also clean.  I hurried up and called Tom, and I said, "Oh my goodness, my friend!  We are making an impact!  Two of my trashiest areas are clean, so I'm going to Columbus to see my son and play with my dogs!"

Here's a picture of Henry & Stella in front of Antrim Lake.  What a gorgeous day!

The last time we went to Antrim Lake, they wanted to swim, so I was expecting them to jump in.  

They listen so well, I was going to take them off their leashes, but they didn't want to swim today.  Maybe it was a little chilly.

Stella laid down in the water and loved every minute of it, but I knew she wanted to go to the dog park to see Jason & Cassie.

I took them back up on the deck that overlooks the lake, and ran around to the other side to get a picture.  They looked confused, but they did what I told them to do.

People were taking videos of me taking pictures of the dogs!  How funny is that?

Columbus is so clean and beautiful.  I didn't see any trash anywhere, and I look for trash everywhere I go.  There's a million people in Columbus, and I know they have just as many people throwing trash out of their cars in Columbus as we do in Akron.  So why didn't I see any trash?

People like Tom and me are picking up trash in their city.  The Columbus Department of Sanitation and Keep Columbus Beautiful are picking up trash.  

I believe more than ever before that Akron will be as beautiful as Columbus very soon.  Just watch.  Tom and I are keeping three neighborhoods clean, and if more people join us, we can clean other Akron neighborhoods and other towns near by.