Junk Love - the strangest junking story ever told

It is no secret that I have a love of junk, many of us share this passion!  Today, actually, quite early today, I had a new experience with junk love.  Today is recycling pick up day for our trash.  We have been saving our cans and bottles for some months to take to a recycling center for cash, but on the last trip, the return value had been significantly cut, so we opted to just throw our lot in with the recycle curb side pick up.  What to do with the bags and bags of Diet Pepsi cans?



We thought we would parcel it out each week until they were gone.  I had the idea that my single neighbor might have some space in her can, so under cover of darkness, (about 5 a.m.), I went to stash some trash in her can.  While depositing my goods, I saw the strangest sight.  A man at the end of my street, wearing a head lamp, was going through people's trash.



He saw me and said a very brief "good morning".  At first I was startled, then quickly realized his plight.  As he moved closer, I asked him if he was looking for cans, he very shyly replied he was and trying to earn extra cash to help feed his family.  I told him to wait a minute, I had a lot of cans.  When I came out with bag after bag of cans, he was so happy, he almost broke into tears.  He thanked me profusely, told me again and again what a blessing this was, and we parted ways.  As I went back into my comfortable, centrally heated home, cupboards stocked full of food, I said a prayer of thanks that I was able to not only help someone else, but help myself to remember that abundance is every where.  Even in our junk.

Love to you all. -Karen

PS l'un tient des déchets sont un autre trésor d'hommes (one man's trash is another man's treasure).  How true!