So, the trash guy hasn’t been coming around lately because of the lockdown and you all know how much trash is being generated now that we’re spending all this time at home. So I did what any adult would and took the trash out myself.

There’s no dumping site nearby and I had to move quite a bit before I found a bin to drop off my large bag. I was so relieved I quickly tossed it in. Then I heard the clanking sound and immediately knew I had dropped my keys in with the trash.

See I’d been too preoccupied looking for a drop off point and all the inconveniences of this pandemic that I had forgotten I was holding the keys too. I knew I had to fish for them from the trash can or else I wouldn’t be able to even get back into the house! And I’m one of those people who keep all the keys together for convenience purposes even though everyone I know cautions against it for this very reason.

Should you lose the batch, you’d then have to break into everything but I’m not about to have "scattered” keys. So, I rolled my sleeves and began digging. I was worried about two things. Being spotted by anyone but especially someone who knows me and two, touching something really nasty.

You’d think there wouldn’t be a lot of traffic given the quarantine but I swear the cars kept coming, as did joggers and random pedestrians who all kept staring at me! They must have thought I was homeless and starving, hence, looking for food and I don’t blame them because if I saw anyone rummaging through garbage, I’d assume they were trying to find something to eat or sell.

Lucky for me, the bin wasn’t overflowing and it was mostly water bottles, straws and foil so it wasn’t long before I found the keys. Also, it wasn’t as gross as I’d feared. Still, I must have washed my hands a million times afterwards and I now have more respect for garbage collectors and anyone who handles our rubbish. It’s not an easy job!

I’ve always known that though, which is why I try not to "direct” dump. I’ll for instance wrap food and fruit peels in lots of paper so they don’t drench the rest of the trash because soggy waste rots and stinks faster.

Hope I didn’t just ruin your breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or whatever meal you’re having with all this trash talk!