Trash or treasure

This past weekend I was at home, reading a book on my living room couch (when I should have been emptying the dishwasher or folding the towels that had been sitting in the dryer for 3 days), when I heard a strange noise outside my window.

I thought it sounded like someone was digging around in the dumpster (which happens to sit just below my balcony). When I went to investigate, I discovered that someone was indeed digging through the dumpster. I was so stymied by this that I stopped and watched for awhile.

I've seen folks stop at the dumpster before (like when you can see there's a big piece of furniture sticking out, or something like that), but this was different. With the engine on his Isuzu Trooper still running, this gentleman, with gloves in hand, was systematically going through the dumpster, pulling out pieces of what looked like cardboard. I'm not sure exactly what he was looking for, or what he planned to do with all the cardboard, but after I saw him open the back passenger door of his vehicle, I could see the inside of his car was jam-packed with trash bags and furniture odds and ends (including what looked like a large lamp).

As I watched him pack the cardboard in and drive away I wondered: desperate or entrepreneurial? Does he have no choice but to dig through trash, trying to provide for his family? Or, does he choose to dig through trash, looking for that discarded treasure or item that can be reused or recycled?

I was stumped.

And conflicted.

Should I have felt compassion? Or have been humbled?

Somehow this seemed different than the homeless people I've seen downtown digging through the trash, looking for aluminum cans, or food.

Even now, a few days later, I still see it in my mind. I sort of wish I had gone out on my balcony and called down to ask what he was doing--not in an accusatory way, but in a curious way--like, what does he do with the items he finds? And is he looking for specific things? Or just looking to see what he can find? And what does he do with all of it? Does his wife yell when he fills up their garage with all his 'junk'?

I remember at a party once, when I was in elementary school, that I accidentally threw my retainer away in a napkin...and I was afraid to tell my mom because 1) the retainer was expensive and we didn't have a lot of money at the time, 2) I had done something irresponsible (and as the oldest child, I was supposed to be the most responsible), and 3) I was embarrassed, plain and simple. I eventually told my mom, we went back to the party, and the hostess graciously looked through all the trash. I actually can't remember if we found the retainer or not, but I do remember thinking that going through trash had to be the worst thing. Ever.

Is it the worst thing? Or a way to make a living?

I'm just not sure.