It is spring here in Canada. The “rainy season.” April showers bring May flowers.
When Greg was around 12 years old, it was his first year in the newly built elementary school in our area.
The playground had a large, paved area, and in that area was a storm drain. It had been warm, the snow had melted, and April was doing its thing by providing lots of rain. Which is fine when there are storm drains.
Somehow the storm drain in the school playground had gotten plugged and it was not working. The water was very deep – 12” or so. And the kids were not allowed to go outside during the school day.
Not being allowed outside was a problem for Greg. I’m sure it was a problem for some of the other kids as well.
We decided to take matters into our own hands. One evening after martial arts class, we drove out to the school. Greg was wearing shorts, and he waded into the pond that had formed in the school playground. He wandered around until he could feel the storm drain with his feet. Then he bent down and pulled a black garbage bag from the pond. It had been covering the storm drain and preventing the drain from doing its work.
With the garbage bag safely in hand, he waded back to our vehicle and changed into some warm, dry clothes.
Goal Achieved
The next day at school, the playground was miraculously dry! And all the kids were allowed to go outside.
It is interesting to me how one simple thing can cause such an extreme halt to everyday activity. One poorly placed garbage bag prevented hundreds of children from going outside and enjoying spring.
One kid had the ability to determine that the storm drain was plugged. That same kid had the initiative, courage and confidence to remove the obstruction. And hundreds of kids were again able to enjoy some time outside during their school day.
Most interesting is that Greg went on to be a plumber.
It was so simple to solve the flooded playground problem. Just unplug the drain.
What perceived problems are we dealing with now that can be easily solved, just by “unplugging the drain?”
With some initiative, courage, and support, we can identify and clear the blockage. And then enjoy a nice dry playground.
