Trash Can Restored! Trees Down!

took the camera to photograph some of the storm's aftermath. Two pictures of downed trees here, more to come . The biggest news to me is that we managed to restore the missing trash can on top of Lookout Hill. Photos tell the story, although I haven't figured out how to move the pictures around so as to have them in order. They seem to upload randomly. Anyway, there's a picture I took the other day of "The Trash can that Wasn't There." Ber and JJ are examining the pile of trash that was heaped at the former site. Today, we walked on the loop that is at the top of Lookout Hill. The tall grasses had been blown down, and lo and behold! there was the missing trashcan! We did our civic duty and returned to its proper location, and even returned the trash to its proper location inside said can. Let's see if it stays that way. Sort of nice to see that it was probably some kids fooling around, and not a deliberate attempt by the Parks Department to trash the natural areas. I have heard this theory from park visitors - if the natural areas are trashed, then the Parks department will have an argument for concreting over more of the park.

I do feel that we are a bit odd and eccentric with this trash pick up business, but that seems to be onlyl in America. Apparently in some other parts of the world it is normal to clean up public spaces. I remember when we were in Hong Kong in 1990 discussing Hong Kong vs. New York with a local resident. He couldn't believe how dirty NYC was, and said he'd be glad to clean the streets himself if he lived there. Then, the other day, Ber met a friend of Ed's in the park, a man from the Ukraine. He loved the park but was amazed at the disrepair and trash. He said in his home town people would have come in to fix things - the local stone mason would have fixed the stones around the lake, people cleaned up after themselves, etc. Many Americans seem to feel that their house is their's, but everywhere else isn't and not worth looking after. I mean, look at McMansions, gated communities, even health care (I've got mine, to hell with you!) When I was at Legal Aid, there were a couple of lawyers with children who couldn't work night arraignments due to child care obligations. I remember a single man saying," Well, I've got a boat, how come I can't leave early to spend time with it?

Wouldn't it be nice to have a better sense of community about the things that are the future of us all? Or is that just my inner 60's youth talking?

crack bag count: just 1, but 2 condom wrappers.