Conversation With A Can Man
by Kelley Rouse
While driving down the road the other day,
I passed a man pushing a
grocery cart slowly along the shoulder. The
cart was piled high and overflowing with aluminum
cans he had gathered.
As he worked, I could see it wasn't easy for him, he was very overweight and moved slowly. But his eyes were quickly scanning where the pavement mets the grass, to catch the glint of a tossed soda or beer can.
I figured that his motivation in doing this work was probably for the few dollars he could earn, but the work itself was important. It was a gift to all of Mother's children.
I decided to turn my car around, and thank him. Maybe no one had ever thanked him for cleaning up the roadside. And I wanted to take his picture and tell his story here.
His face lit up when I thanked him for making our small corner of the world a nicer place to be.
"Every little bit helps" he told me with a smile.
But when I asked if I could take
his picture, his face clouded over.
"I would ordinarily be very happy to
do that," he apologized. "But my wife
and I are on a subsidized income and
if they see I am making a few extra
dollars recycling aluminum cans, they
may take our money away. See, my wife
has cerebral palsy and I'm also on a lot of medication.
And we can't lose our benefits."
I was astounded, and was also immediately sorry for any anxiety I may have caused him, by stopping, and walking up to him with a camera in hand. I assured him I wished him no harm and only wanted to thank him, and to let him know that what he was doing had made a difference in my life that day.
He allowed me to take pictures of his cart...and that was enough. I shook his hand, and he sent me on my way with a "Good day, and God bless !"
But as I watched him disappear in my rear-view mirror, I could not help but think of the unfairness of this man's life. Burdened with illness and old age, he is forced to contend as well with a system that has left him fearful of what else it may take from him.
Not to mention those of us who drive right past him, every single day, without even giving him a second thought.
June 2, 1996 Kelley Rouse All Rights Reserved