Sunday, 08 October 2006
On The Way To Church, & Other Stories
You know, I had pretty much decided that I had neither the time nor motivation for the latest novel-idea that I've been writing, when last night, or this morning, I started getting all sorts of ideas and began thinking of different things I could do with it. So I guess I'll give it another chance. I just don't know when I'll have the time to work on it, and my motivation always wanes if such projects last too long.
I think I've reached a point where my notes are too sparse. Perhaps I'll plan it a bit more, and then I'll see how enthusiastic I am to write it. As long as I succeed in finishing everything else I ought to, though.
Today, as I was walking to church, a family stepped out of a house as I passed on the other side of the road. It is a quiet road and there were no cars about, so I wasn't too alarmed when a small toddler suddenly ran across the road over to my side of the road.
In fact, he looked quite sweet and he hopped up on the pavement and ran to a small fence, beyond which is a stream. The parents knew where he was, whether they were closely watching him or not (not that they weren't, but my attention was on the child, not them), so there was no need to be concerned for his safety or anything. He had a big smile on his face, and I wondered what he was going to do as he paused looking at the stream.
He threw something in. Whatever it was had looked white. Glancing over the fence as I passed, the main thing that caught my eye (besides the discarded shopping trolley that was clearly too big for him to have thrown) was all the litter lying around. Among the litter was a white polystyrene cup.
I hope all he threw was a twig or leaf or something equally harmless. I sincerely hope that someone so young was not already a seasoned litter lout. His parents made no comment on his actions, so I presume that my initial thoughts were mistaken and he was not littering. I am certainly keen to believe that they would not be ok with their child having a blatant disregard for the area in which they lived, although I know that this is not always the case.
It is worrying, because children learn fast at that age, and their parents (or guardians) are in a better position than anyone else to teach them to respect themselves, other people and the world in which they live. Perhaps most parents do. In an ideal world they all would.
I just think it is a shame that I live in such a beautiful part of the country that is routinely marred by litter strewn along its paths, streams, roads, beaches, etc.
Anyway, I have too much to do this month, mainly because I didn't do enough last month. So I'd better stopping whinging and get on with it!
