Making A Difference

I think it is part of human nature to want to make a difference in the world. Some people make a difference by recycling, others volunteer, still others plant recession gardens or find another productive way to make a positive impact. People like Sean spend countless hours reorganizing their playlist on iTunes. I'm not sure what difference this makes but it must accomplish something or he wouldn't dedicate so much of his life to doing it. Why am I bringing up this topic you might be asking yourself right now? Well yesterday I was on a run around the neighborhood and I came across evidence of someone making a difference.

As I made quick time down the Boulevard a number of little yellow flags caught my eye. What could these be I asked? Focused on my run I jogged past countless of these flags, all with something apparently written on them but it was too hard to decipher I as went by. On my way back I promised I would slow down and investigate what these flags were and why they were there.

As promised I slowed down and took a look at these little flags as I was running back home. They turned out to be small metal stakes with yellow plastic flags attached at the top. There were no less than 19 of these flags over just two blocks. Each flag had the same slogan written across it.

And why were these flags placed up and down the Boulevard? Well, someone was making a difference clearly. Upon closer inspection I saw that each flag was planted securely in organic matter left behind by one of man's best friends. Is this really necessary? Is a little bit of dog poo really worth the time and expense expended by this difference maker to prove his/her point? I felt compelled to go home and make a bigger sign that said "Some Asshole Left Me Here" with an arrow pointing at the yellow flags. Mine of course would be made of biodegradable materials and would use a much friendlier looking font.

Now ironically as I was out today taking pictures of the work of a concerned difference maker I witnessed a tremendous showing of civic responsibility. This group of people must have decided that their Toyota Prius' were using too much gas and they needed to return to simpler times with less environmental impact. Will the horse replace the car? It may. In Richmond it looks like it is already happening.

I can only assume that these environmental equestrians must have seen the little yellow flags on a previous commute and made arrangements to be part of the solution not the problem. Following behind this traffic jam of horses and their riders were two City of Richmond street sweepers making sure that none of the horse emissions would need be marked with little yellow flags.