The Great Garbage Can Caper

In my neighborhood our garbage is picked up weekly by the city.  The city nicely supplies a ginormous garbage can and a big truck comes by weekly and scoops it up and empties it into a garbage truck.  (My grandsons would love it.)  The HOA frowns on it if you don't bring your can back to the house and store it out of sight by 24 hours after pick up.

All this is well and good but after 10 years the lid on the garbage can has taken a beating.  In other words, th lid is hanging onto the can by a thread of plastic.  So about a week ago, I called the city to get a new one.  No problem says they.  Simply leave it out after the pickup and the next day someone will come by and pick it up and leave a new one.  That's terrific says I, how much do I owe.  Nothing they say.  It is part of the service.  Terrific!

Well, now starts the rest of the story.

Tuesday - no on comes by.

Wednesday - late afternoon.  Someone brings my can up to my garage.  What nice neighbors - wonder who did that.  I should thank them.  So I put a big sign on the lid - for pickup by the city - and haul it back to the curb. No one comes by.

Thursday afternoon dinner time - the doorbell rings and someone starts pounding on the door.  Maybe it is the HOA?!  But no, it is a policeman - cute at that, checking on me.  One of my nice neighbors had called because they knew I lived alone and they were concerned about me.  Egads, a welfare check.  How many times have I done that in my career.  Didn't I prevent an apartment building from getting blown up doing that?  And didn't I almost do that to my dad when he didn't answer his phone - land or cell - for several days.  But me - I am well and hearty.  Well, almost anyway.  The police office and I had a good laugh over that.  Still no one comes but.

Friday - no one comes by.

Saturday - late afternoon.  The garbage can is back by the garage.  Those nice neighbors again.  And yes, the sign is still on the can.  Still no one comes by.

I am anxiously awaiting Monday and this coming week to see what happens.

Wanna bet I will get a letter from the HOA.  Probably Tuesday I think.  I'll keep you posted.