Ex-mas.

I was walking the dog again -- I know, right? And I'd just walked him the day before! -- when we passed the various piles of garbage set out for our indefatigable trash men. And yes, I said trash men, because I've never seen a woman on the truck, and I've never met a woman who really wanted that job. I'm sure there are some, but I await their arrival.

Anyway, it looks like lots of you were busy over the Labor Day weekend! Being nosy as I am about other people's trash, I had to give it a casual-not-so-casual once-over as I went by each house. Seems like a lot of folks were cleaning out the garage, or cellar, or even attic. And good for you!

But I was sad that Christmas had come to an end.

I've had the sad duty of turning Christmas decorations over to the garbageman many times. But it always comes at the start of or after the end of the Christmas season. Either something breaks during Advent or Christmas, or I find that something mysteriously got broken in the cellar or attic in the intervening year, or I manage to break it while putting it up. But for me to toss something after Labor Day weekend would indicate that I was cleaning out the cellar or attic on Labor Day weekend. Which would mean work. Puh. Leez.

The Santa above was outside the house of a family that is getting ready to move. They had already filled a dumpster. Santa seems to have been one of the last things to go. Oh, jolly old elf, how sorry the parting must be. I could not tell if he was broken, but from little I know of their circumstances I think they're downsizing -- empty nest and all. There may just have been no room for St. Nick in the new place. It's so sad.

Below, the snowman is utterly shamed, or miserable, or was just dumped here face-down. He, at least, was definitely damaged. This family recently got a second dog, and the ripped up leg of this stuffie snowman may have been a testament to how deep in the possessions one small dog is able to get.

I know I should not get sentimental about objects, but there's hardly any other reason to have such things as these. I do think it's less sad to see them tossed outside of the Christmas season than during it or directly afterward. When it comes during or after they look like an old retainer who's been tossed into the streets. Here they look like what they are -- damaged goods getting a long-deserved rest. C'est la vie, c'est la guerre.