 Hi Ray, I haven’t seen you since high school. What have you been up to?” “Hey, Richard, great to see you. I pick up garbage for the village.” “Really? Alone?” I ask. “No, there are three of us. Mike drives the dump truck. I hang on the back of the truck on curbside. Billy stands on the driver’s side. When the truck stops, we jump off, head to the curb, pick up the garbage cans, and empty the contents into the back of the truck.”
“Wow, those steel cans are heavy,” I reply. “You like your job?” “Yeah, it’s great except for a few things. One time when I lifted a garbage can over my head, a maggot dropped onto my cheek between my eye and my glasses. Mike also wants to finish the route as quickly as possible, so he heads for the next stop before I’m back on the truck. Sometimes when Mike speeds up, garbage falls off the truck. I have to run back to get it. But, hey, it’s a steady job. I get to work outside. Mike and Billy are my friends. I can retire in 30 years.” November 1977 “Daddy, there’s one of those big, ugly, wooly caterpillars again,” my daughter laments. “I hate them!” “Why’s that?” I ask. “Grandpa says that when a caterpillar’s fur is thick, like this one, we’ll have a long cold winter. I don’t like winter. If I step on the caterpillar, maybe winter will be warmer?” “Ha - it doesn’t work that way, Honey. You can’t change the future by killing a caterpillar. Don’t hate him. He’s just doing his job.” November 2017 My morning walk is interrupted by the screech of brakes and the groan of the yellow robotic arm as it emerges from beneath the monster truck. The oily, steel hand snatches the plastic garbage bin that sits at the curb. Whoosh, the arm returns and dumps the contents of the bin into the enclosed back of the truck. The robot returns the container to the curb. Lid open, the bin bounces to the ground and dislodges the remains of my neighbor’s dinner. I wave to the driver. He doesn’t see the pork chop on the street as he heads to the next stop. If this essay is meaningful, please like or tweet below or leave a comment. Thank you for your interest and possible action you may take. Richard Wilberg, MS, PLCC, ACC Life Coach for Personal Fulfillment and Career Success
11 Comments
Wayne Brabender
12/5/2017 07:02:40 am
Richard . . . short, to the point, makes me think . . . all signs of effective writing. Thanks!
Linda Brathwaite
12/13/2017 05:09:38 am
Richard,
Francie Corry
12/15/2017 10:40:00 am
This essay shows and inspires instead of tells me what to think- a sign of great writing. It makes me think of the career counseling I did with you when I was struggling in my own morale about what I have to offer to the world in terms of job and vocation. I was in a full-time job where I felt unappreciated and this made it hard for me to perform as well as I could. You helped me see that all of my gifts matter - just like this essay. The garbage collectors are needed, the Catapillar is just doing it’s job. We are all needed in our own way and our own natural gifts we give to help society function as it does.
Dan Rosetta
12/28/2017 01:16:04 pm
Great article, Richard. As always, your stories are written in a way that allows me to literally see the details play out like a movie in my mind. Yes, it gets me thinking too. For me, thoughts that surfaced were compassion for others, unpredictability of the future and, non-judgmental curiosity about others and things. Interestingly, I always leave your stories feeling calm, peaceful and curious.
Christian Long
1/28/2018 11:17:06 am
Richard,
Richard
1/28/2018 03:06:28 pm
Christian, We'd al get along better with your suggestion. Thanks for sharing.
Richard
1/28/2018 03:11:41 pm
Christian, Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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About the Author
I write personal essays, creative non-fiction, flash fiction, and self-development articles from my home in Madison, Wisconsin.
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