Cleaning up Broadway and a special 8/8/8

It seems like more and more neighborhoods have their own Mr. or Mrs. Good Deed who combines walking (exercise) and picking up litter along the way (more exercise and a great community service).

For several weeks this summer I've noticed a man with hair the same color as mine walking along Broadway pulling a trash container on wheels and sweeping up trash on the sidewalks, in gutters and even in the street. He's out early, usually between 6 and 6:30 a.m.

This week I stopped to find out why he does this wonderful spiffing up of one of Cape Girardeau's main thoroughfares, since we pay taxes for the city to clean our streets. The man told me his name was Chester and that he cleans up Broadway for the Downtown Merchants Association. I hope you will read more about Chester's civic labors in a future feature story in the Southeast Missourian.

Chester and I share the same notion that the best time to get things done is early in the morning, without interruptions or distractions, except from the occasional nosy newspaper guy. Tackling the litter on Broadway is no easy task, and sweeping streets and gutters is best done when there is little or no traffic.

Bravo to Chester and all those who beautify our community by picking up the litter that has been tossed onto our streets and sidewalks by those who apparently think everyone else is a slob just like them.

I still wish owners of commercial property along Broadway or the city would do one more thing during the warm months of the year: kill the grass and weeds growing in the cracks of the sidewalks and gutters.

I'm a Roundup person myself, since the driveway at my house, the brick patio and our sidewalks all have plenty of cracks to attract all sorts of things that grow.

If the Downtown Merchants Association wants to supply the Roundup, I will gladly take responsibility for spraying along Broadway. I think Chester and I would make a great team.

Deal?

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Today, by all accounts, is a special and lucky day.

It's Aug. 8, 2008.

Or, 8/8/8.

In Chinese culture, the number 8 holds much the same significance as the number 7 in Western culture. It is no accident that the official and ceremonial start of the Olympic Games in Beijing is today.

And it's a big day for weddings.

For some, choosing to be married on 8/8/8 is a practical decision. It's a Friday, which leaves the weekend for a honeymoon before returning to work. I know, many couples these days go on exotic trips for their honeymoons. That's fine and dandy. When my wife and I were married, I had just started a job. On the first day of work I had to ask my boss to take off Friday to get married. He wanted to know if I expected to take the weekend off, too. Yes. The whole weekend? he asked. Yes. He granted my request for matrimonial leave but warned me not to let it happen again. It hasn't.

And, of course, 8/8/8 is easy to remember. But so is 6/18/65. If a husband or wife can't remember his or her anniversary, getting married on 8/8/8 isn't going to be that big a help. (That last bit is for a certain wife who, for 40-plus years, has always remembered our anniversary -- but on the wrong day. Pretty subtle, huh?)

For forgetful couples, here's one more idea: Regardless of when you were married, just pick a date that's easy to remember, or when the weather is nicer. That's what Queen Elizabeth II does for her birthday. Born in rainy April, her official wingding is in sunny June.

Works for me.

R. Joe Sullivan is the editor of the Southeast Missourian.