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By Wendy Halderman

One woman's trash

Posted 10:06 a.m., January 16, 2008

By Wendy Halderman

Today I was reminded of what would be a slight twist on and old saying: "One woman's trash is another woman's treasure."

After I dropped off my youngest son at school, I returned home to find a proverbial "bag lady" rummaging through my neighbor's recycling barrel. It was trash day, so everyone's barrels were at the curb. Her hair was matted, her clothes unkempt, and she stood with a slight hunch. She smiled as I approached her.

"Excuse me, ma'am," I said. "You can't do that. It's against the law to go through other people's trash."

She nodded toward me and mumbled something as if she did not understand English. She continued rummaging through my neighbor's barrel, and extracted a plastic bottle which she then stuffed into a large trash bag looped over her arm. The bag was already full of recyclables which she had undoubtedly found in other bins along the street.

I felt annoyed and spoke a bit louder, waving my hands in a "stop" gesture. "You can't do that," I repeated.

She smiled pleasantly and mumbled again, seemingly nonplussed at my attempt to intervene. She extracted an aluminum can and placed it into a second, smaller bag.

I stood there not knowing what to say or do next. I was overwhelmed with an odd mixture of frustration, anger, and pity.

She walked past me, skipping my barrel, and continued down the street to the next, looking back once at me to gauge my next move. She still had a pleasant look on her face. The absurdity struck me suddenly, as I found myself standing in the street guarding my trash barrel. The surge of anger and pity hit again, only this time it was directed toward myself.

What kind of person am I? Where was my empathy? What kind of society is this, which does not even offer its trash to the poor? I walked into the house, wanting desperately to erase the vision of the smiling woman who didn't speak, an eerie Ghost of Christmas Future. In one surreal moment I felt as if Santa had come to collect toys and I was the lone soul who had refused to contribute.

There but for the grace of God go I, I thought. When laws become more important than acting humanely toward each other, we have indeed lost our souls. After my experience today, I, for one, realize I have some soul-searching to do.

Please, everyone, remember to see the blessings in everything you have, and in everyone you encounter.