We all like to live in a pleasant, clean neighborhood. My wife Sandra and I especially like looking out our dining room window to O’Donald’s Park next door. So we have a bird’s eye view of the expansive grass and the children’s play area.
Several years ago we became aware of papers and cans and bottles in the park that really disturbed us. “How come the city doesn’t do a better job of cleaning up the park? we thought.” Well, the city does come once a week to mow the grass, blow the sidewalk and paths and clean up the park. That’s great, but it’s just one day, and the other six days there is no one to clean up.
That’s when my wife and I decided to go out each day and pick up what needs picking up. Some days there is not much. Other days there is a ton of all kinds of garbage in the park from a group having a party and just leaving a big mess. We do those jobs too.
So why do two mid eighty year olds spend their time picking up trash? I think it’s pride of ownership of the park. Of course we don’t actually own the park, but we feel it’s our park, and when it needs cleaning up, we just do it…like picking up our living room when it needs it.
What has occurred several years ago is that when we go for a walk and see trash anywhere we go, we have this habit of picking it up too. And that’s anywhere in the city. Why? Because it’s our city and we want it clean.
We get no thanks for this effort and expect none. I doubt anyone even realizes that someone has done anything, but we know what we do, and we take personal pride in that. It’s a nice feeling to do something for the betterment of our neighborhood and city, and we suggest that you may find great satisfaction in doing it too. Try it; you’ll like it!
Walter and Sandra Soellner
Retired Evergreen Professor