Today we did the “semi-annual” garage clean up. I say it is the “semi-annual,” not because we have a strategic plan, but rather, because this is the second random clean up this year, and it could very well be the last.
I’m always amazed at the amount of junk we have collected over the years. Though I admit, at one time it didn’t seem like junk; we paid some good hard earned cash to buy some of that stuff.
Well because we are on a huge reduction plan, today we took what appeared to be of “no earthly good’ to the garbage dump. I was amazed to see that here, in garbage dump land, there is actually a set of “garbage dump etiquette rules”.
Upon arrival at the City waste land, I was astonished to see how long the line up was. I’m serious, it was at least 30 cars deep. ON A SATURDAY??? Don’t people have anything better to do with their time, than to get rid of their junk?
So here are the rules. First, you must pay to dump off your “no longer required” items. The “Garbage dump people” establish a price, based on how much your vehicle weighs (we paid six dollars).
Then, we are required to sort our garbage according to what is was made from, plastics, metal, wood, or limbs and mulch. Each one has its own drop off zone.
We had mostly wood and metal, thankfully the two drop off sites were side-by-side. Arriving first at the wood station, I noticed a “No Scavenging” sign. Huh….”interesting”, I thought, who would want to pick up somebody else’s refuse?
Then we had a conversation with a man next to us, he gave us some interesting advice, he said; “as long as you don’t go home with more junk than you came with, you are ok.”
All this made me wonder, how often do we pick up somebody else’s junk? What are we collecting from others: anger, resentment, frustrations, or aggravation? And then are we taking it home as if it was some prized possession? Perhaps it would be better to take note of the “Danger, no stopping here” sign!

Here’s another tip: There is no charge, no rules, and no line up to drop your junk off at the feet of Jesus.
Whose junk are you collecting?
~Donna