Tuesday, August 17, 2021

ABOVE AND BEYOND

 

Taking a walk on a nearby street, something jumped at me.

 

While the front lawns of houses had various degrees of gardening care, all were lovely in their own way. But then, the public sidewalk swatches of earth, for the most part, bore no hint of care. Nature and its weeds reigned, as they do where we humans do nothing.

 

Here is what most of the sidewalk spaces looked like—



Understandable. After all, that swatch is not private property. Why put an effort to weed, plant, and maintain when it isn’t even yours? You might even find the natural growths charming.

 

What struck me wasn’t the rule, but the exception. Here and there, the hand of a passionate gardener spilled over to the public sidewalk in front of their property. Like so—



At least for me, the sight of orderly loveliness buoyed the heart. Less for the undeniable aesthetic of it, but for something else. It was the recognition that here lives a person who in their daily life goes above and beyond what is required, expected, or aligns with the surrounding convention.

 

I think life is like that. Some people always do more. I am humbled and grateful, for they hold up the rest of the network that is humanity and keep the rest of us from rappelling down.

Respect. 🙇 


6 comments:

Kelly Hashway said...

It's nice to see some people who do more. I appreciate them, too.

Mirka Breen said...

I suspect you are one of the folks who go above and beyond, Kelly

Vijaya said...

I appreciate this too, so much.

MirkaK said...

'Twas ever thus: some people give 165% and others give 10% or nothing at all. Thank goodness there are enough people who care to make a difference, so obvious when comparing the two photos.

Evelyn said...

Yes, some people definitely brighten the spot where they are and make the world a better place for all whose lives they touch.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

I used to keep what I called a "curb garden" in the space between sidewalk and street in front of our G Street house. I really enjoyed that space - and neighbors did, too. It wasn't that hard to maintain, either. I just had to keep trimming it.