Big Garbage Day

Weather was all right this weekend which allows us to get a jump start on clearing debris and figuring out where all the garbage that accumulated in the garage came from.

I cleared some of the leaves that were stuck along the fence, and opened the garage to see that the garage was used as a place for my boys to drop off the garbage they no longer need.

It was now my task to drag it to the curb because it was big garbage day, which is an exciting time for all.

Big garbage day is an exciting time for an elderly guy who scours the neighborhood for gems.

The guy has a pickup truck that looks a little like the vehicle that Lamont Sanford had in Sanford & Son.

He takes anything and everything that has any value at all. One year, I decided to clear out the bikes, as the boys were done with them.

I lugged all 6 bikes to the curb and put a huge ‘Free’ sign on them.

Ten minutes later, I heard his truck. I watched him load a bike.

Then another.

He was going for a third one when I headed out.

“How many of the bikes are you taking?” I asked.

“All six if I can fit them,” he said.

“What will you do with them?” I asked, thinking that perhaps he had grandkids.

“Sell them,” he said. “You’re crazy for giving them away.”

I took one of the bikes off his truck.

“I put them out there so a kid without a bike could get one. You can sell one. The rest stay here.”

He was pissed.

“The sign says free,” he said. “I didn’t know there was a limit.”

I laughed.

He left.

The other five bikes went quickly. One of them went to a boy of about 10 who was so grateful.

“It’s like new!” He said.

Ahh, the excitement of big garbage day.

I lugged a broken down couch, and a beat up old dresser and left it for anyone who wants it.

Ten minutes later, I heard the truck.

He slowed down, but kept right on driving.

He could’ve taken both.