OUTDOOR Adventures

How do you do it?

Someone recently asked me where I come up with topics to write a weekly column and I have to say, I had to stop and think about it a bit before answering. Writing a column certainly presents a few challenges that when I was acting as a sports stringer in the past never encountered. The topic then focused on various teams, the results of their contests including player highlights and an announcement of upcoming action. I had to put it into a somewhat reader friendly form and my job was done. If my publisher would say “here is the topic for ‘Outdoor Adventures’ for the next edition,” you might think things would be easier, but not really. Not everything in life comes with a plan and even “the best laid plans of mice and men can still go wrong,” at least if you adhere to what Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns penned long before this column was ever a thought.

I often I just sit down at the computer, take the thoughts rattling around in my head and let them flow to my fingertips. Somehow, that process turns into the words that end up on the page and after they are proofed by at least one person who is much more detailed than myself, the column gets saved and sent off via email to the publisher who inevitably takes the full responsibility of printing my jottings. The general rules of thumb for this column are simple. At least something should be relative to some type of outdoor activity. The topic matter should also be entertaining, even if only slightly amusing to someone other than myself. Of course, a columnist is expected to add their thoughts and opinions to add “flavor” not part of a standard article or story, and finally, try not to offend anyone. That last one can be a challenge but keeping the content a bit light-hearted certainly helps.

So, what are my thoughts right now? Eco-slobs. If you are unfamiliar with the term, do not waste your time looking it up in the dictionary. It does not come up on any internet searches so it may not be an official word. A former educator of mine who taught Environmental Science used it to describe people who discard their trash in places other than the receptacles available that are for that exact purpose. Some may call them “litterbugs” but in my opinion, that is too soft. Some bugs are cute, at least in their own way. There is nothing cute about seeing things such as used fast food wrappers blowing across the parking lot at the Hastings Civic Arena or counting four… yes, FOUR cloth masks on the ground at a shopping area in Cottage Grove. That would be four over about a 100-foot walk between my car and the door.

Okay, here comes the strong opinion and flavor that may or may not offend a few folks. It is not my intent to do so and, I know it will. Come on people, we can do better than this. For you who are saying, “if you don’t like it, why don’t you pick it up?” First, because I did not throw it there. I was not the self-centered individual who instead of carrying the garbage a few extra feet to put it in the can thought it was just fine to drop it on the ground. As for the masks, it should stand to reason that nobody wants to pick up something that was in contact with a complete stranger’s mouth and nose. Accidents happen and I am not saying that all garbage that does not find its way to the trash bin is done without regard to the environment. Even if it is accidental discarding of an item, this self-proclaimed referee of ecological issues is going to toss the penalty flag if you walk away from it like the man in his 30’s did from the food wrapper and the woman of at least 60 trips around the sun did with her mask. I could have called you out directly, but that type of interaction rarely ends up in a friendly manner. I am going with “the pen is mightier than the sword” this time and your actions have now become a reminder for all that we all have the great outdoors to enjoy. It is up to all of us to work together and maintain the environment so we can all continue to “Get Out and Enjoy the Great Outdoors.”