July 11, 2012
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Life
There is a woman who delivers papers to people in our apartment complex. I have run into her several times, because I leave for work really early, and she delivers papers really early. Lots of times when I ran into her, it was still dark outside, and she walks along with her head down, paper turned under her arm. She walks very quickly, and hurries because she leaves her van idling in the parking lots while she runs around to put the paper on the doorsteps. Several times she didn't see me coming and looked up, quite startled, when I passed by. She is a very attractive woman, and she speaks a word or two, although from the sound of it, I don't think she speaks in my language. Anyhow, I've noticed over the past few weeks, that she takes one of those long "pick up stick" things...the long wand like thing with pinchers at the end (I've seen people use them in nursing homes to pick things up when they are unable to bend over) and stops her van at each of the big garbage barrels at the back of the complex, and roots around and pulls out any pop/beer cans that she sees. She puts them in her own cloth bag, and takes them with her. I assume she gathers up a bunch and takes them and turns them in for cash at one of the recycling places. A very good idea to make some extra money.
That whole thing got me to thinking. I would assume that she does that as a very important way to make cash to pay her bills...she probably doesn't make much money. That made me stop and think about how fortunate I am to have my job(s) and that I have enough money right now to pay my bills and things, and some people really do resort to digging through the trash to get the money to pay their bills. At the same time, I admire her for doing that...she isn't standing in line, or standing at the curb looking for a handout. She is doing something to earn some money. I was also thinking that you just never know someone's story. For all I know, she could be a secret millionaire, and she is just doing things that she enjoys doing right now. Likely not true, in this case, but all the same, you just never know. These are the things that happen all around us, and so many people just take things that they have for granted, and don't really appreciate what they have. I haven't actually introduced myself to the woman, and I probably won't, but I am glad that I "met" her, and that I get to see a bit of her life.
Comments (3)
You make some very good points ! You should definitely say "hello" to her the next time you see her. She would probably enjoy having someone to talk to for a quick minute some of the mornings. From what I know the people who deliver newspapers don't make much money.... it's the postal workers who get tons of money ! (at least here anyways) They have the unionized government jobs and they get great wages and amazing benefits.
It would be nice if the newspaper companies could afford to pay their carriers a little more, but I realize they are struggling to stay afloat as well as newspapers aren't as popular as they were years ago. It is great knowing that some people are so independent and really do whatever they can to take care of themselves. These people should be greatly respected and they should have opportunities to advance their careers if they choose to do so.
Anyways I hope that everything has been going well with you lately. Take care and I'll talk to you later, bye for now.
Kyle
I have to admire her industriousness. We save our pop cans for the maintenance man in our Florida RV park. He is such a hard worker and always has a smile on his face. We've given him an old TV and a few others things as well. It is a good feeling when you can pass on things that others might need.
I have seen people doing that here to with the cans. No different than when we were kids and had the little red wagon. We would go down all the streets in our neighborhood looking for empty soda bottles as you could cash them in for a nickle a piece, good money for a kid back then! We used to get 4 or 5 dollars a week doing that during the summer, as most people bought more soda because it was so hot!
I agree with people who are resourceful and not looking for handouts. I remember the year after my 2nd divorce, I worked 7 days a week for a year, full time at a much lower paying job and then Fri., Sat. and Sun. nights as a closer at a Burger King in my town. Couldn't afford to use the apt. AC or even get a box fan that first year so I slept on the floor with my balcony door open for a breeze during the summer. I was on the 2nd floor. When I did my taxes that next year I went to the Eckerd Drug Store and got a 20 inch box fan! You would have thought it was Christmas!
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