Trashy People
2004-09-15, 9:06 a.m.

For Wednesday:

Look for beauty in your trash.

Hmmmm. Coffee grounds...nope. Empty box of Special K...nuh uh. Old beefaroni? Definitely not.

There IS beauty to be had in other people's trash, however. Around here they have a marvelous institution called Monthly Bulk Trash Day. The city is divided into zones, each with it's own special day, on which you can set out anything from old appliances to tree limbs to your unruly children. (Just kidding about the last one there...barely. Heh.) It has become an upwardly mobile happening, recycling at it's finest. People set out some reaaaaaaaaly good stuff, from antique furniture to art, knowing that someone, regardless of income or social standing, will drive by and get it.

I have nabbed quite a few freebies. There's a lovely old paint-by-numbers tropical picture now hanging on my back porch, courtesy of a neighbor's curbside offerings. Ethan Allen end tables, new plastic flowerbed edging, and a new-never-used big trash can with lid are a few more examples of goodies from da curb, not to mention our grill. Best grill we've ever had. People set out full furniture suites, school supplies, sports equipment, working lawn mowers, just about anything you can imagine, knowing full well that the stuff is still good and will be whisked away in a matter of hours. The best part? If you get it home and decide you really don't need it, just put it back by your own curb, and it will disappear before you can get back in your house.

Once, there was a big pile of very nice stuff outside a brand new home. It was obvious the owners had just moved in. As the stash was so good, I decided to knock on their door and ask first before pilfering. The people were very friendly and excited to have someone interested, as there were more items they had not yet put out. I left with the end tables, a turntable, two fans, a new combination lamp/table/magazine rack, two nice Lane recliners, a set of encyclopedias, and a HUGE painting of the beach that also now hangs on the back sun porch (aka the Tiki Room), to name a few. Yes, I said "few". It took several trips to bring it all home. Some items we kept, some we took to charity, the fans and encyclopedias were donated to the school. One man's trash is truly another man's treasure. Hubby no longer hums the theme from "Sanford And Son" when I cruise by an intriguing offering, and he is just as likely as I am to haul something home.

Yard sale junkies, eat your heart out. I live in the land of milk and honey, where freedom and freebies ring. Life is good.

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