Cart

He was waiting for me at the end of the driveway. I spotted him in the distance when I turned the corner onto my street. 

He was big and bold, standing there. I felt the butterflies in my stomach rise up and flutter about. The excitement was palpable. He was here at last. I couldn’t wait to lug that bad boy up the driveway, my driveway, well technically “our” driveway, but this was my moment.

I turned into the driveway, steering gingerly, ensuring I didn’t knock him down. I slid the car into park, switched off the engine and immediately clapped my hands, letting out a squeal of anticipation. Of course, I forgot the windows were down (because my car’s air conditioning is broken and I cannot afford that bill), so I realized immediately that my neighbours might have heard my outburst. 

I looked around. All clear.

I leapt out of my car and skipped like a child who maybe needs knee replacement surgery to the end of the driveway to greet him, my new big blue recycling cart. Not to be confused with a recycling bin, this is a cart because it has wheels. Were it a bin, I would have called it Benji, because, as you know, I like to name inanimate objects. I always wanted to use the name Benji for something in my life. Who doesn’t love the name Benji? I believe a Benji is always a good soul, but carts don’t have souls (or do they?). I digress.

Henceforth, the big blue cart shall be known appropriately and ever so creatively as, you guessed it, the Big Blue Cart (what’s in a name?). I was going to go with the nickname BBC for short but found out there was the whole copyright issue with the UK broadcaster (I’m a big fan). Not feeling like getting in trouble with other media types.

I grabbed hold of Big Blue Cart’s handle and kicked the bottom out with my foot so it balanced on the two wheels, then dragged it quickly up the driveway. It was so clean and perfect. A protective seal kept the lid shut. Not a scratch on it. What a beauty, but also a beast. 

Big Blue Cart is about to make our recycling efforts much easier, and I know the Carpenter, whose duties include the sorting and curbside carrying out of blue boxes, is looking forward to one recycling option bi-weekly, in what they’re calling a single stream, which means Big Blue Cart will get all the recycling, even more recycling than his predecessors. 

I’m not a fan of drive-thru hot beverages, but my family is, so that waste recycling alone makes me happy. So long, toothpaste tubes. Deodorant cases, buh-bye. All the cardboard, glass, plastics and newspapers in one giant cart. Exciting.

I parked the Big Blue Cart upright at the corner of the closed garage door, so it would be the first thing the Carpenter would see when he arrived home. Minutes later, he pulled into the drive. I could tell he too was happy to see our newest edition, though he was not nearly as animated as I was, because the Carpenter doesn’t get animated about much of anything, ever. 

He got out of his truck and walked over, sized up the Big Blue Cart and grumbled, “That’s going to take up a lot of room in my garage.” 

And without skipping a beat, he asked, “So, what did you name it?”

Rejoice in recycling, my friends.

Embrace your Big Blue Cart with heart.