Must there really be a balance?

Do you believe in balance? That the universe will impose it's even keel?  When there are ups, some downs must follow?  Yin and Yang?  As a young adult, I always thought about the balance in this way: We wouldn't really recognize beauty if we haven't seen the opposite (in all areas of life). I'm not sure what I believe anymore, but yesterday has me thinking. 

The Augusta Market has started back up (Saturdays, 8 to 2, at 8th and Reynolds), and yesterday was such a marvelous day.  Almost too marvelous. 

After we left the market, the kids and I went to visit my parents.  There is a dog living a few houses down that I've only see from afar.  Yesterday, the dog came for a visit.  What a sweet giant fluffy pup.  He wants love an affection, and someone to play with him.  He also desperately needs help.  I have never seen a dog this badly in need of a groomer.  The mats are damn near criminal.... layers and layers and layers of mats and matted feces.  What do I do?  Just take him and get him help?  Approach the people in the super sketchy house, who are feeding him and letting him sleep on their front porch, and ask them if I can help what I think is their dog?  Call the ASPCA?  I can't just leave it alone.  This dog needs help and he's a peach. 

My mom was making a lovely veggie soup for dinner, but the crockpot was not cooperating.  Instead they opted for a dinner at the tavern/pub down the street.  As I pull in and park, I notice the guy next to me shotgunning beers.... in his truck... with a whole lot of empties in the front seat. What the hell?  Really?  The guy goes in and orders more drinks, but goes back out from time to time (I can only assume to drink more in his truck).  What do you do?  Tell his waitress?  Ask them to take his keys or cut him off?  Take a picture of his plates and call the County Sheriff?  I feel a bit ashamed that I did nothing and decided to mind my own business, especially when I was driving home with my kids, back past the same tavern, hours later... and I'm wondering if that guy is out on the roads... drinking more in his truck.  I'm an asshole for doing nothing. 

To help make up for my shame, we make it back home with seconds to spare for Earth Hour.  I'm hoping that spending an hour in the dark with everything turned off will help heal my karma for doing nothing about the drunk in the truck. The kids and I, at the end of the day, were home safe and playing cards in the candlelight, and the market was so awesome, but... there's a drunk driving around Aiken County in a silver Chevy (maybe you'll see him at the Back Porch sometime ... he's one that turns deep dark beet red when he's drunk) ... and that poor dog still needs help.  I guess I know I can't help the drunk, not really help him), but maybe I can help the dog.