That is what I ask a guy hanging out on a corner begging for donations.
Gale he replies. But I think he says Dale and he corrects me. It's Gale with a gee. I tell him that I am Thurman.
Gale and I spent 30 minutes picking up litter from the four corners of an intersection in Tempe. I paid him $10 for his time and effort. Interestingly, I found $10 while picking up litter on my way to meet with Gale.
What do you do Thurman? Gale asks me after we have been working for a while. I tell him I teach about computing. Gale is not computer-literate. Gale wanted to know if I was ever married to Donna. Nope.
I got excited when we finished an area. Gale and I worked good together.
I had talked with Gale the day before about helping me pick-up litter. He jumped at the opportunity. He wanted to know what my motivations were for picking up the litter and for hiring him. He said he would be interested in doing it anytime. I told him that I will probably be back next week.
My best summer when I was in college was when I worked as a Garbage Man. [I also enjoyed a part-time job at a sewage treatment plant.] This summer (26 years later), I am working as a Litter Man.
Author: G.D.Thurman
[thurmunit@inficad.com]
Created: 02 Jul 2002