Why can’t folks just take a minute and put litter in its place?  Occasionally, on my morning walks I will take along a plastic bag and pick up various items (which I can safely reach without risking life and limb), and I wonder: Why do people do this?  It would be so simple to keep a small bag in one’s car and place the trash in there temporarily and then put it where it belongs at a later time.  God has made our beautiful world, one that showcases His handiwork, yet mankind continues to trash it!

My catch-of-the-day this past Saturday morning yielded the following: 4 Bud Light cans, one diet Coke, ¼ bottle orange Gatorade, an empty water bottle, a carton that once held Burger King fries, two empty chip bags, a doll’s purple cape (worthy of Mardi Gras apparel), a ballet slipper (I think), and Reese’s and 3-Musketeer wrappers, Halloween favorites, no doubt.  There were also plenty of other items in varying stages of “being”.  The drink of choice on this particular morning was definitely Bud Light. 

The previous time I gathered trash, the fast food establishments were in a race.  There were KFC, Bojangles, McDonalds, and Sonic memorabilia, as I remember.  Catsup containers? Of course!  All eateries were duly represented.  I figured it must take an equal amount of driving time from all of them in order to woof down a burger and fries, chicken wings, etc., before tossing the entire bag, beverage cup - with straw often still attached -and remaining contents onto the streets in our neighborhood. Oh, and there were three Scouting for Food mailbox hangers that had lost their moorings, most likely blown away by the rather strong breeze this morning.  I did not realize what they were until I reached the house.  I will try to return them to their mailboxes if I can remember for sure where they belonged.

I am blessed to live in a lovely part of Lancaster.  There is exquisite beauty in all seasons.  However, a couple of streets in the neighborhood connect to other, more heavily traveled streets, and I suspect that some of these aforementioned items were hastily flung from vehicles that were cutting through - a shortcut if you will - heading to other parts and beyond.  I do not want to believe that folks in my neighborhood would ever be among the guilty parties.  In fact, if you are even reading this right now, I probably would be safe to declare you not guilty.  But, perhaps you can use your influence to encourage others to put trash in its place!  Sadly, I know that littering is common everywhere and is a great blight on our nation, speaking volumes about many of our citizens.

Will the day ever come when DNA testing will be done on evidence tossed out by disrespectful folks so that these perpetrators will be caught?  I’m certain the technology is already available!  If our tax dollars ever provide enough money for this, perhaps our law enforcement folks can begin to get a grip on prosecuting those thoughtless individuals who have no respect for the beauty of the earth and continue to violate the litter laws.  If such testing is ever implemented I will be happy to be among the first to submit samples found along our streets and roadways.  This might be an excellent way to use the stimulus money, in my opinion.  Now, that would be a change in which I could actually believe!
 

That’s all for now!  I wish you a happy, trash-free day! 

NOT A PRETTY PICTURE!