Why Didn’t My Recycling Get Picked Up?

Seldom a day goes by where I don’t have a thought like “I wonder why…” and I take it down a crazy path of possibilities that can sometimes lead to fun, but illogical conclusions. For instance, the other day my son asked if there was as a $100,000 bill. I didn’t know, so I wikipedia’d it and found out there was. It was mostly for intragovernmental transactions, but it was a thing. There were also $10,000, $1,000 and $500 dollar bills in circulation at one time. Kinda cool to think that Monopoly denominations did exist!

Printing of the above notes was discontinued in 1945 and they were pulled out of circulation in 1969, (meaning that once a bank receives these types of bills they are destroyed). However, not all of them have been destroyed. Impossible, right? It’s like taking bulbs off a Christmas tree. You think you have them all, then you put it out on the curb or get ready to put it back in the box and crack! Bulbs like to hide. Same thing with the bills.

I would like to think that a person with a $1,000 bill would put it in a safe or something, but isn’t it possible that someone in the history of the known world put it in a book, under floorboard, or a hidden nook in the ceiling? Then time got the best of them and they forgot. This is where my imagination kicks in. Old houses, old books, estate sales… maybe I need to get a new hobby like antique refurbishing. Lot’s of possibilities for hidden money! Or maybe in the woods behind our house. There have been lots of wars in New England. Isn’t it possible that a soldier with a satchel filled with gold or banknotes stayed to rest and left his satchel behind? See! Fun and illogical, possible but not plausible.

Let’s just say that we did find one of these rare notes. It’s like a super extra bonus. You can still use them as legal tender, but you would be less than intelligent to do so. Being as rare as they are, they can fetch way more than their face value from collectors. One article I read said, on average, they are worth 40% more than the face value. Not bad! So remember, don’t use your newly found $500 bill to buy your first and only bottle of Whistle Pig. Sell it to a collector and buy one or two:-).

Now, recycling. Today is the first recycling day after the holidays. We are bursting at the seams when it comes to recycling. I saw our nice recycling gentleman come into our neighborhood this morning as I brought our youngest to the bus stop. I don’t know why, but for some reason having our trash and recycling picked up makes me feel better. Weird, right? Is it “out of sight, out of mind”? Either way, it is a happy day.

With my son on the bus, I go back to the house and the recycling is still there. I take the dog for a walk. Everyone in the neighborhood had their’s picked up but the folks on our street. Why is that? Here I go down the path…are we a bad “tipping” street? Did we leave too much recycling for the prior pick-up? Do they skip certain streets because this week they usually have more volume and this way they don’t have to go to the recycling center as often? Did he just get caught up in his thoughts and drive by? Did someone put something in the brown barrel that was meant for another barrel and this is punishment? And then, back to the tipping…I am feeling guilty.

In all likelihood, the truck was full. Three hours later, he came back. A sense of relief came over me as our recyclables went off into the sunset to find a new purpose as a paper bag, plastic toy or another glass jar.

Even though the recyclables are gone, I still wonder. Sometimes my thoughts are fun and illogical and others, just illogical. The logical part of my brain says the truck was full and he returned to our street after dumping at the recycling center. But, I still think about the tipping! I have a guilt-ridden conscious, sometimes. Not because I am guilty of doing bad things, but sometimes I feel bad or obligated. To get rid of the feeling I do something to make up for it. Catholic guilt? It’s not a true guilt, it’s one of the worst motivations ever.

I really appreciate our recycling gentleman. I am glad he came back. Perhaps I should show him our appreciation with a gift card? A warm drink? Cookies? It’s so off. When I think of doing something as a token of appreciation, I get a happy feeling, but when I think of making up for being a bad “tipping” road I feel guilted and resentful. Can you take any situation where guilt might be an influence and turn it around so that it is from the heart? I think yes, and I think its something I need to work on! Personal goal 2019;-)