I FOUND MY RED SOLO CUP!!!

 

I found my red solo cup!

Oh, probably not the same one that bounced over to me in Barberton yesterday, but this one didn't get away!

Tonight, I headed up Main Street to pick up the trash I saw a week ago.  The first area was clean, and so was the second area.  My friend, Tom, has been out picking up trash!  Hallelujah!

The third area was still a nasty mess.  Wow!  Almost don't even know where to start when it's this bad, all tangled up in the weeds.  I didn't think I'd get it all done, but I'd at least get started.

A really nice white SUV honked it's horn and the guy yelled out, "Thank you!"  Then about five minutes later, he drove over to where I was and got out of his vehicle with a big smile.  He said, "I can't believe you're cleaning this up.  Thank you so much!"  I wasn't sure what to say, so I said, "Wait about an hour.  It will look really good."  He said, "It's a huge improvement already!" And he handed me $20.  

My friend, Tom, would say no thank you.  But the guy turned around and came back to where I was, got out of his vehicle, and maybe it would be nice if he would get a bucket, gloves and a trash grabber and help, but he is helping when he gives me enough money to buy another box of trash bags.  I am very grateful that he went to all that trouble.  No way would I ever insult him by refusing his generosity.

So I got that all cleaned up, and who comes driving over to me?  My friend, Tom!!!  

It was so nice to see him.  I was afraid he was sick when the areas he usually cleans were all messy.  He said he has been sick, but he's back out again, and maybe we could clean the I-76 freeway ramps together this weekend.  I told him that would be great . . . unless I already have it done.

I headed to the fourth area, and it was probably worse than the area I just cleaned, and this is what people driving by on Main Street see!

I got that all cleaned up and headed for the next area.

It was really awful, and keep in mind, this is the first thing visitors see when they get off I-76 in Akron.  Is this really who we are?

So I checked my phone to see how many minutes I had left.  There were only 20 minutes left, so I hurried.

And I got it all cleaned up!  It's amazing what you can do when you really stay focused.

I picked up 1,954 pieces of trash tonight, and tomorrow night, I will continue where I left off, and hopefully get started on the exit and entrance ramps.

 There are six bags of trash I'll ask Keep Akron Beautiful to come pick up.  I'm sure they will be really happy to see this area all cleaned up again.

I am making so much progress!  Wadsworth, Barberton and Akron are all looking so good!