Monday, November 27, 2006

Good Garbage!


You know the feeling: You're late for work, the car's running on fumes, and suddenly you find yourself performing all manner of traffic violations so you can take one quick look at the very promising trashpile you just inadvertently whizzed by...

Well, if you don't know the feeling, at least you know how my morning started. And if you're anything like me, then you also know that I arrived at work a little late, a little grimy, and in proud possession of an incredible pair of wooden library chairs.

My name is Wendy, and I'm a treasure hunter. While I love to thrift as much as the next guy (ok, probably more than the next guy...), and I'm a yard sale junkie, to boot, I get my real (cheap) thrills on the curb. I am amazed and delighted by the variety, the quantity, and the sheer serendipity of what's to be found nestling alongside the garbage can. Take today's haul, for example. In addition to the aforementioned pair of chairs, I scored three hockey sticks (which my boys need for camp this summer), a grapevine wreath, and a very cool wine rack, which is on the verge of becoming a hat/glove/scarf storage center in my mudroom.

I drive my husband crazy. My neighbors think I'm certifiable. My four year old, however, rides shotgun in his booster seat, and is often the first to spy a cast-off treasure. "Good garbage, Mommy!" he'll call out, and most of the time, he's right.

6 comments:

jill said...

This reminds me of my aunt/uncle who live in Providence, RI. They have regularly for years gone out ON trash night to "Pick." My uncle is way handy and can fix anything up... The year I lived in Boston for college I used to take the train down on weekends just to go with them, it was SO much fun. I outfitted my entire apartment that year with "Picked" things, it was so cool.

Out here in the West there isn't any such thing as Good Garbage. I don't know why, but nobody puts out "good stuff" just trash.

AMCSviatko said...

Reminds me of the time someone I was dating and I drove past the same 4 mid century chairs sitting on the side of the road three or four times over the course of a few days with me saying things like "What great chairs!" "How cool are those!" etc.

He didn't stop. I never got the chairs. And I didn't date him much longer. :-)

Meagan said...

I had to chuckle reading this. My mom used to haul me and my sister around town on trash night, and we always brought home all sorts of things. In fact, I attribute my love of so-called junk and thrifting/tag saling to my mom (although I think I may be shaking off the associated pack-rat mentality since having my son...too much stuff = too much to pick up).

Where I live now, the city contracts with a waste company that does not allow large items to be placed into the trash. It needs to fit into your one, properly sized can or it can't be picked up. Thankfully, I can sometimes sneak things out of the dumpsters around town (thrift stores sometimes dump the most amazing things because of lack of space).

Thanks for your story, Wendy!

Tongue in Cheek Antiques said...

Dumpster diving is an art, it sounds like you are an expert at it!! I loved reading what you wrote, I felt like i was right there alongside of you!!

j. vorwaller said...

"good garbage mommy!" haha, that's jus the best!

:) dumpster diving has brought so many of our furniture into our home, you wouldn't believe the stuff that got thrown away in our old neighborhood!

:o)

savvycityfarmer said...

I must be a geek, but I don't get that???? (the above)

Oh, believe me I get the trashpile stuff.....