A Fork in the Road
There are two very different kinds of objects in my life: those I drop and say 'oh, shit!' and know I have to pick up immediately ('better stop and see where that went, see that it's ok', 'gonna need that for later') and the 'ehh… whatever. look for it later…maybe. it can't have gone far. I'm sure it's fine, I'll do something about it later if I really have to' kind.
Last week I was walking a dog, and passing the entrance of the park I saw two young parents enter, walking their child. The young man in a black hoodie with the hood up in summer and hip-hop style lettering across the shoulders threw his empty can in the grass. His attract young partner looked at me, looked around, saw me again, kept walking, looked around, then threw hers, too. Their child, slightly ahead of them, didn't see either moment, but I suspect there will be an influence on their behavior one way or another by the time she's their age.
I wonder how many children ('offspring') are like the cans in the park, just litter that they can't wait to drop off somewhere at the first socially acceptable chance. Object burdens to be rid of and thought no more of.
