This year, the dawn of my 50th, I gave myself the ultimate gift, a summer off. How fortunate for me. Oh, the possibilities were endless. Each day, I planned, following a leisurely breakfast on the patio, I and my faithful Jack Russell, Shadow, would enjoy taking long walks through the highways and byways of Levittown and the surrounding environs, to soak in the sun's rays and take note of the scenery in ways car travel can never allow.

Well, the summer is all too quickly drawing to a close and these almost daily walks have opened my eyes to a very discouraging reality. Broken beer and liquor bottles have taken over the school yards, parks, streets, parking lots, and landscape. Even children's playgrounds are not immune. It is bad enough when the offending bottles are left whole, but especially depressing when they are heartlessly broken into shards that can hurt our precious children and pets.

Who leaves these bottles? Probably not the homeless and derelicts. Certainly not our neighbors, local homeowners who face this insult of glass each and every day. Who are these thoughtless and destructive people whose unsavory presence is felt beyond their brief stay in our neighborhoods? Why are they allowed to desecrate and destroy, not only their own mortal bodies, but the peace and serenity of an entire community? Are they our children, teenagers, young people who have not even learned basic decency? Who?

Even when a trash bin is near at hand, or when their car or bike could easily accommodate the bottles until a suitable disposal is available, they take the easiest course available and just leave these bottles on our streets or, worse, smash them as the ultimate insult.

What can be done? Although I have taken it upon myself as a personal mission to pick up any discarded bottle in my path, one person can only make the littlest dent in eradicating this huge suburban blight. Certainly, a few more people can make a meaningful difference. An army of indignant people could wage an effective battle. Are there any politicians listening? Add this to your platform, and I'll sign on as a committed and vocal partisan. If there are any organizations willing to tackle this as a special project, you can count on my support to work and rally others who feel as outraged as I do.

Well, I did enjoy this special summer. Somewhat more relaxed, however, I am truly sadder since observing the scope and scarring of dangerous trash and the toll it takes in all neighborhoods, not just mine. Shadow and I bonded, although I have become more vigilant about taking a walk than I had ever imagined I need be.

I won't ever listen to the camp ditty, 99 Bottles of Beer on the... without now finishing it with a new and sadder ending.

Marie A. Palagonia