I’m sorry to say that it has taken me almost a month to get around to sharing my story. My little dog, Penny, and I have made a hobby of gathering trash in and around local cemeteries — in addition to straightening fallen flags, wreaths, and memorial flowers.
Over the last year and a half, we have volunteered hundreds of hours and hauled away hundreds of bags of gathered trash.
Most days we feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment, but some days, after peeling yet another wet fast food wrapper from a headstone, or picking up another discarded vape cartridge, another beer bottle, another energy drink can, etc., we begin to feel defeated, annoyed, and disheartened.
It was on one of those disheartened mornings, after gathering candy bar wrappers and potato chip bags from around veteran graves, that I came upon my quilted heart. It caught my eye in the grass, and I assumed it to be just another paper cup of coffee tossed by a passing car.
Imagine my surprise to come upon this beautiful scene, this beautiful gesture. I can’t express enough how much I needed the heart on this day — March 28th. It made my heart smile to know that there are people putting beautiful things out into the world, and reassured me that not all is trash.
My most sincere thanks to whomever gave a little of their heart to help warm my own. ❤️
(Found near the flag poles of North Lawn Cemetery).
