Thinking about "trash"

On my way to work this morning, I started noticing what people had sitting by the curb for the trash collectors to pick up. Let me state that I drive through one of the most impoverished parts of town. There were piles of clothing, broken furniture, toys, shoes, etc... and it made me start thinking.

My great uncle who was born in 1911, was the youngest of 14 children. His father died when he was 5. To say they were poor would be an understatement. They took turns going to school in the winter because they would share shoes, there were only 3 pair. He remembers many mornings waking up and shaking the snow off his covers. He only went to school until he was in the third grade when he took a job at a saw mill. Clothes were taken up, let out, done over until they were just rags. They ate whatever they grew or killed, and then they ate in shifts because there was not enough plates or utensils to go around.

I said all of that to say this, if his family were to find all the stuff that people throw out now they would have thought they had become millionaires. We have become such a throw away society. No one fixes anything anymore. No one does over clothing so that it is wearable again. I really don't know where I am going with this post. I am as guilty as anyone for not making do with what I have and throwing away items that can be fixed. I guess I was just thinking about what a difference the word "poor" has become over the last few decades.

Just a random thought for a Friday!