Another Man’s Treasure
When Giffird was nine years old, he became fascinated with an older man named LeRoy, who drove his old pickup truck up and down the streets of the Stockyards. Giffird watched him rummaging through junk piles and trash cans, gathering items thrown out by apartment dwellers and small business owners and putting the stuff into the back of his truck.
One day, Giffird built up the courage to walk up to LeRoy and ask him why he collected junk. He approached the older man cautiously. “Mister,” asked Giffird, “Why do you dig in garbage cans and take other people’s trash?” LeRoy smiled at Giffird and told him to sit down on some steps. Then he quickly retrieved two small bottles of Dr. Pepper from a cooler in the back of his truck.
While they enjoyed the sodas, Leroy explained to Giffird how different metals could be melted down and re-used. He also told him that some people throw out things because they no longer want them, but a neighbor just a block away might need that very thing desperately. When the older man finished explaining, Giffird was convinced that “one man’s junk was indeed another man’s treasure.”
When Giffird was nine years old, he became fascinated with an older man named LeRoy, who drove his old pickup truck up and down the streets of the Stockyards. Giffird watched him rummaging through junk piles and trash cans, gathering items thrown out by apartment dwellers and small business owners and putting the stuff into the back of his truck.
One day, Giffird built up the courage to walk up to LeRoy and ask him why he collected junk. He approached the older man cautiously. “Mister,” asked Giffird, “Why do you dig in garbage cans and take other people’s trash?” LeRoy smiled at Giffird and told him to sit down on some steps. Then he quickly retrieved two small bottles of Dr. Pepper from a cooler in the back of his truck.
While they enjoyed the sodas, Leroy explained to Giffird how different metals could be melted down and re-used. He also told him that some people throw out things because they no longer want them, but a neighbor just a block away might need that very thing desperately. When the older man finished explaining, Giffird was convinced that “one man’s junk was indeed another man’s treasure.”