Ode
Dear Mr. Trash Man,
When my sons and I set out on our walk this morning, our sole purpose was to find you. Sure, watching you from afar (our window) has been fun, but it was time to really get in on the action, so I suggested we head out in search of you and your big blue truck. Several blocks later we succeeded, when we turned the corner and there you were, using your little forklift truck thingy to dump a huge bin of waste. And there we stood as you drove by, cheering you on and clapping for a job well done - how you pull up to just the right spot, how you use the forklifty thing to shake every last bit of refuse out of the can - it is masterful. And thank you for blinking your lights and giving us a little beep beep, by the way.
And then we set off to follow you on your route, which I cannot say, has been one of the best ideas I have ever had. You are driving a trash truck, after all, and trash is not pleasureful to my nostrils, something I did not really take into account when I suggested we proceed to walk behind your truck full of stinky neighborhood refuse. But follow you I did, because my son was having the time of his life. And I have to say, you are quite fast, sir! Considering the number of times you stop periodically to pick up trash, I did not foresee this problem. But I’m pretty glad I had my jogging stroller and running shoes, because you sure do haul it from house to house (get it? Haul it? I thought you’d like that pun, Mr. Trash Man).
Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for making our day. And you know, I’m sure there are lots of stereotypes about people in your profession out there; I’m sure you make it onto a lot of 10-jobs-I’d-hate-to-have lists, but to my son (and to many others, I suspect) you are truly a hero.
Sincerely,
The Mom that stands on the corner cheering as you drive by
P.S. Please pick up my yard waste that is laying out on my lawn. I know it’s not in a bin as it should be, but there’s just too much and it tips the bin over. Please?
P.P.S. If you haven’t already done so, Mr. Trash Man, and anyone else who is reading, please go and enter my Brain, Child subscription giveaway, because I’m sure even you could use some more good Mommy Lit in your life.
We are right there with you. My kids stand at the window on trash day and wait. When he is taking our cans they wave like crazy! I swear the trash man must think we are nuts, but for some reason, they just love that trash truck!
BTW: I tagged you! Should be up shortly!
Ah… I love reading things like this… about the simple things that can make us all so happy…
We sit out on our front porch every Monday morning for the show… but I am thinking that THIS might be one of those boy/girl things where my girl do the expected, and I think…. better you than me!
My son is still a baby so we don’t notice the trash truck just yet.. but I am sure my day will come.
My kids are lucky we not only have the regular trash pick ups but there is a school by us so buses and best of all the fire station is super close too. We get a nice selection of fire trucks and amulances on any given day. Right now we love to catch a helicopter or plane flying around. We have playgroup every friday for summer and I love when all the boys and some of the girls line up and point. The things they say just make you heart swell. Right now my son wanted to work in the bank…. he thought handing out lollypops would be perfect. Or a policeman. LOL If only I could see the world through a childs eye once more.
Isn’t the garbage man great? Corinne and Evan used to sit in the window with juiceboxes and watch him drive by. We used to have to RUN around to the front yard when she’d hear him driving up and we’d wave and wave. He must have thought we were nuts, but he ALWAYS waved back.
Oh we love the trash man too, and have to spend a full five minutes watching go down the street each week.
I’m sure I will appreciate Mr. Trash Man more when Popeye is older. Neither of my girls have ever been interested in trucks. Boys and girls really are different.
Love it!
Amen! My daughter absolutely adores the trash truck and the recycling truck. She can hear them coming from a block away. I’d like to say it was the influence of her older brothers but they didn’t seem very interested in trucks.
Here Here…
We used to have the nicest trash guys. Our recycling guys- not so much. They write not-so-nice notes on our recycling bins. And they don’t accept glass. Which is dumb. But anyway, this was great!
(p.s. I gave you an award in tomorrows post!)
Lucas sounds so much like Sam. THere have been lots of bobcats around and Lucas can watch them all day.
Jenn
My grandchildren LOVE the trash guys and the trash trucks. We too have the trucks with the giant arms that pick up the huge trash bins… kind of quietly, but always majestically. We also have alternate weeks of green bin pick-up for paper and blue bin pick-up for bottles and cans. So the bottle/can week is especially loud and appealing to all of my little grandsons!
I love this post. It does make us stop and realize just how powerful and wonderful the world is as it goes on around us. All we need to do is stop and look, listen and enjoy!
Sharon - Pinks & Blues
let’s hear it for the true heroes!!
He sounds like my Boy - he would RUN RUN RUN to the window to watch the trash truck stop at our stop!
too bad I hadn’t thought of that when we lived in the city! what a fun idea!
I hope these guys really do feel appreciated.
My kids line up at the window to watch when they hear the garbage truck coming.