Christmas level: most excellent.

Between my desire to seize “The Holidays” and to deliberately create some new traditions for myself, to say that this holiday season has been challenging for me would be an understatement.
While working as much “new” into my seasonal routine as I can while still reviving cherished traditions, there are still the mundane everyday tasks that must be attended to.
So this morning early, I wheeled out the large rolling trash bin that is a source of bark inducing frenzy for my oldest dachshund.
A few moments ago, his nemesis, the trash man drove into the cul-de-sac and collected the trash.
He seemed to be taking longer than normal to complete his rounds. “It’s colder than a well diggers axe today” I thought to myself, and assumed that he was just being cautious to keep from falling on the several inches of snow that Mother Nature had graced us with last night.
Once he drove off, to the chorus of barks from my two Santa’s Little Yelpers, I walked out to retrieve the bin and wheel it back in place.
As I did, I noticed a small envelope sticking out of the top of the lid.
“Oh. A card somehow fell out and got caught”, I thought. But as I looked, it became apparent that it had been intentionally, carefully placed there.
It was a Christmas card. From my trash man.
I looked up in time to see him at the last house in my circle and he waved and grinned.
During the summer months he’d always wave at my little barky crew. On rainy days he’d put the empty bin closer to my gate. And, on the rare occasion when I’d forget to put the trash out, he’d stop to check if we were okay.
Sadly, until the receipt of that card, I didn’t even know his name. Mario.
Another thought just struck me. He probably hand wrote a little greeting in each card. There are 150 houses in my immediate neighborhood. I’m sure we’re not the only ‘hood on his route.
As if his job wasn’t physically demanding enough, Mario probably sat down this weekend and hand wrote heaven only knows how many Christmas cards for the folks on his trash route.
Mario, you may not know this, or even ever read this, but your gesture just put a great big dose of much needed cheer into my holiday.
Merry Christmas Mario.

4 comments

  1. Rich · December 7, 2016

    Well now you’ve really done it Judi! Your post has touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes….darn dust!

  2. Rich · December 7, 2016

    Merry Christmas, Mario!

  3. Susan McBride · December 7, 2016

    Mario…from trash to treasure.

    • judiannablog · December 7, 2016

      LOL Darn it. That would have been a perfect title.