Trash Warriors: Inspired and inspiring

Thank you to those Trash Warriors who showed up for our first event! We had 14 people in total, ages ranging from 7 to 66. We walked close to two miles and picked up about four big bags of trash, plus one bag full of cans and bottles that were cashed in and donated to a local nonprofit. Thank you to Editor Bill Poindexter and the Auburn Journal for helping to promote this event. It's because of our community members, the city of Auburn and our local newspaper helping to spread the word we had such a successful first event. OK, I'll give social media their shout-out as well since I did post the event on three FB platforms. If you are a Trash Warrior and missed our first gathering, there are plenty of chances to join. We will be meeting on the first Saturday of the month behind the Auburn City Hall buildings. Summer hours are 9-11 a.m. The city provides grabbers, safety vests, garbage bags and buckets. We will tackle a different part of the city each month. I will be up at the Yuba River for our June event, as I had already committed to a mini-river cleanup there. Anne Brown, my partner in trash, will be there. Looking forward to seeing all who make it. Be sure to bring a hat, water, and if you have a grabber, bring it. On a whole other note, back in January, I said I was going to have my will or trust created by the end of the first quarter. Well, I didn't make it for the first quarter, but it is now done, and boy, does it feel good! Creating a will takes an incredible amount of time. What do I have and how will I distribute it? Those are tough questions. I think the hardest part of creating a will or trust is doing it. We have to admit to our mortality, or lack thereof. We all know the day will come when we sign off from this life, but facing it is difficult for most people. For me, because I don't have kids, choosing who will allocate my estate and to whom my estate will be allocated were the hardest choices to make. Once those decisions were made, I felt a huge sense of relief. If you haven't created your will or trust, I highly recommend it. One last thing. Every Friday night from 6-8 p.m., there is a new event, Music on the Square. The square is where the Christmas Tree goes up every year, where the fire pit is. Each week is a different musician or group, offering a variety of music, from Celtic to classic rock and most everything in between. If you are looking for something to do on a Friday night, bring a chair and your favorite beverage and enjoy the town you live in. We now have the entertainment zone in downtown and Old Town, where you can imbibe in your favorite cocktail in public. As a member of this community, I am proud of who we have become. I've lived here for more than 20 years, and the support from the city, the newspaper and mostly from our community members inspires me every day. I hope you are inspired as well, as we can all use a little inspiration these days. Remember to spread kindness like it's confetti and Pack it in, Pick it up, Pack it out. Every Litter Bit Counts! Kristi Meyer is a Realtor at Granite Real Estate in Auburn. She has been serving the foothills for more than 20 years. If you have questions about real estate or need a Realtor, you can call or text her at 916-847-5128 or email her at ItMattersToKristi@gmail.com.