Ok, in hindsight, finding a discarded axe in an alley in Los Angeles might have been less a reason to exult and more a reason to call the police, but I was young and it was a cool find.
While I’ve left my dumpster-diving days behind me, I am not blind to good finds. A few weeks ago I spied a perfectly good neoprene knee brace at the park ‘n ride I frequent. I left it or a day to make sure nobody was coming back for it. A bird had pooped on it, but after a trip through the washer it was good as new. I have a trick knee and I periodically have need for a brace.
Today was a two-find day. On my walk to work, after collecting a bagful of random detritus, I found a brand new bandanna. It was lying in the street. I peered at it carefully to make sure it didn’t contain anything objectionable, but it seemed to only carry stains from having been run over a few times.
Then, at the park ‘n ride on my way home, a re-usable plastic Starbucks coffee cup was discarded in the bushes. My keen sense of observation tells me that somebody was drinking liquor out of it. Both have received a very thorough series of washings in very hot soapy water, and are ready to go into rotation.
I draw the line at underwear, socks, shoes… you might be surprised how often those crop up. I have to admit I often have a difficult time bringing myself to pick those up to discard them. Hand washing – it’s not just for dinnertime.
Who can resist free stuff? Pick up a piece a day and it will happen!
