“Shelter-in-place”, “social
distancing” and “essential business” have become everyday phrases in this Year
of the Coronavirus. Everyone has their own list of “essential” businesses or services
and every person’s list of what they consider essential will be different. One
service/business which deserves to be included is trash removal.
The
humble work of garbage collection does not get attention until missing. We
learned that the hard way one Christmas when our daughter was 6
At
the time, our neighborhood was new. Because of the holiday season, a replacement
driver was running the route. He missed our neighborhood the week before
Christmas.
The
week of Christmas, we not only had the trash from the week before, but the
trash from Christmas week including all the extra empty boxes and wrapping
paper that come when parents celebrate Christmas with young children. We figured
the trash people would surely make it that week.
Nope.
It wasn’t until the third week that the garbage truck finally toodled its way
back into our neighborhood. By this time, our garbage can (we only get one can,
one pick-up, once a week) was not only overflowing, but we had collected eight additional
bags to go with it. The “official” garbage policy—no more than two extra bags—required
a plan.
As
soon as the trash truck made its way to our curb, we leapt into action. I
engaged the driver in chit-chatty conversation (which I have never been good
at), while my husband scurried to the back of the truck and started tossing in garbage bags as fast as he could. As soon as I saw him leave the
truck and get back in our yard, I smiled, wished the truck driver a Happy New
Year, and said good-bye.
Ever
since then, I have been keenly aware of the importance of garbage collectors
and I appreciate them keeping at their task even in the midst of the pandemic.
Besides
first responders and health care professionals, what other essential workers would
you like to thank for their work in this troublesome time?
