Languishing During a Pandemic

 

Languishing During a Pandemic

The plastic, glass and metals go into one container

whole papers and cardboard go into another, anything 

that can compost has its own green container with a lock lid

so vermin and squirrels don’t get in; then on every third week 

there is room for yard waste and large objects like mattresses.

I especially look forward to the arrival of the Garbage truck.

it is a matter of positive reinforcement especially if the driver loads my bins into the appropriate areas of the truck without any re-sorting. it is an automatic reward system announcing that I did it right in the first place.  

Sometimes, if there is a major mistake, like not binding cardboard boxes after breaking them down, I will get a pink slip, like a large sticky note with my offence circled in black.  Its the equivalent of a dunce cap.  The slip signifies the area I have to work on in order to get it right for the next pick up day.  I have a week.  It gives meaning and purpose to my week.

There may be no social life, drive to job, or entertainment, but there is still garbage day.

Appeared in the Chronicle and KW Record as a letter to the editor followed by a front page story in the KW Record dated Thursday May 13, 2012.