Violated

I have been violated because of the ' no less than 3 feet' rule. I wake in the 3am hour this morning to hear the usual recycling and garbage truck lumbering and beeping down my street. Their route is odd, and they cruise the street about 3 or 4 times within the hour, so this morning seemed no different. About the second or third go-round, the truck stopped longer than normal outside my house. I didn't think much of it, but now that I think about it, I felt a malicious feeling coming from my driveway as I heard extra crashing and banging but I didn't think much of it in my sleepy haze. Then Spaz and I fell back asleep, seemingly cozy and safe.

----Four hours later----

Cheery me is walking to my car to go to work for the day (well not so cheery - I am definitely NOT a morning person). I see that my paper recycling container is thrown into the front lawn and my trash can is on it's side on the sidewalk between my car and the hedge. The paper recycling container hit the grass with so much force it actually ripped up some grass in the newly formed plastic crack. I diligently take all my containers to the back porch and get into my car. The righthand side mirror is bent inwards and that's when it hits me. I get out, flip the mirror back to it's rightful place, and that's when I see it. A half-dollar sized dent in my car! The garbage man went postal (pardon the mixed up phrase) and threw my garbage can into my car! My heart starts racing as I realize that I most definitely put my containers too far into the '3-feet zone' and completely pissed off my garbage man. I signed an agreement when I started City of Arcata garbage service, stating clearly that I would not put my containers closer than 3 feet from any person place or thing. It is my fault for not following their rules. But, does that warrant them denting my car? I guess if they don't have the courtesy to leave a note, or maybe do something non-violent to get their 3 feet rule across, perhaps I'll just put something really stinky in the trashcan. Garbage wars. And it's extra scary because they know where I live.