And This Is The Thanks I Get?

We tipped the mailman, and the UPS man for the holidays. I avoided getting my nails done, getting a haircut, and, in general, anything that smacked of needing to tip extra. No sacrifice there, what with my quarterly haircuts and bimonthly (meaning every other not twice monthly) pedicure.

I'm not sure if I've fully accepted tipping above and beyond the regular tips you give. No one's tipping ME for being a good customer. For not taking up extra time. For having my receipts ready. For not bouncing checks. I'm not sure if something above the 20% norm is needed.

The mother's helper got a gift, as did the summer sitter. The neighbors got tokens. I would have tipped the trashmen were I abusing the service, and I waited for a card from the paperman. (No longer paperboys. Someone abruptly brakes at 5 am, a thwak and a thud, the paper hits the door, then tires peel off. It's all so impersonal now.) I would have tipped him but we got no card this year. Maybe it was folded into one of the numerous discarded papers.

So you know, I thank people. I thank people who do for me. Even though we sure as shit aren't shaking a money tree.

But you know who pissed me off? Who I think OWED me a card in the mailbox? You know who should have hauled their ass out of the car and given ME a thank you?

The guy that steals the recycling.

Seriously, week after week I separate the cans from the bottles from the rest of the recycling. I put the cans in a white plastic bag, the bottles in paper, and I position both "just so" on the curb so when he pulls up in his tricked out white Buick with the compartments in the trunk, all he has to do is cruise up, swipe the bags, and drive on. He barely brakes. Add to that I sometimes put them out early. Saturday vs Sunday. Or early evening so he's not driving by at 2am. I counted it out tonight. On average I'm a $3 contributor. No, I know, it's not much. But week after week I provide the same service. Clean cans, clean bottles, separated by type, packaged with care. He can count on me.

Do I ask for anything? No. Have I ever shook my fist or pepper sprayed? Absolutely not. Do I threaten to call the cops? No, not ever.

So at a minimum, a card. He could have left me a card.
I'm seriously, seriously, seriously considering returning my own bottles.