little differences

It's all about the little things in life that make the biggest difference.  Life has been speckled with little differences since we moved to Bellingham.  Take garbage pickup for example.  In Seattle, you best get your garbage out on time or you are out of luck.  Also, it's best to steer clear of the garbage trucks.  They have lots to pick up and don't have a spare moment.  If you happen to get behind a truck, don't expect them to move out of your way - turn around and go back the way you came.  You'll be glad you did.  I've missed the garbage pickup too many times to count - running after the truck as it drives away - knowing that next week, I'll be paying for extra pickup.

Up here in Bellingham, it's different.  In fact, so far, I have had three positive garbage experiences.

1.  We were new to the neighborhood and had not yet figured out how the garbage pickup works though we did know that you get a very large bin and it gets picked up either once a month (our plan), twice a month, or every week depending on how much garbage you generate.  I hear the garbage truck coming down our street and I run outside to put the bin out.  Of course, by the time I got out there, he was driving away.   But, all of a sudden, he puts the truck in reverse and COMES BACK!  I was in disbelief.  Then, he takes the time to look up in his little computer the date of our pickup (it was the following week), puts a new sticker on our can to help me remember, and takes my trash away even though it is not "our week" for garbage pickup.  Nice guy.

2.  I was driving Rowan to school and got stuck behind the garbage truck.  The street we were on has lots of hills and valleys and visibility was not great for passing.  We were running late and I said out loud "shoot, now we are stuck behind this truck for who knows how long." Of course, Rowan got concerned about making it to school in time for outside play.  At his next stop, before he even picked up the trash (actually, I think it was recycling), he went into the road and waved me by the truck.  Again, disbelief.  It wasn't even like there was  huge line of cars behind me...he was just being considerate.

3.  Today...I get home from an appointment and noticed the empty trash can on the side of the road.  I hadn't realized it was the last Friday of the month and was so happy that Eric had remembered to put it out there.  Stakes are high when you only have pickup once per month.  Anyway, I come inside and say to Eric "thanks for getting the garbage out - I am impressed you remembered."  He looks at me and says "I didn't do it."  The guy (yes, I know he is a guy) actually went and got our can by our shed, wheeled it to his truck and emptied it for us.  For real??  Yes, for real.

Life is good, even when it comes to trash.