So, I discovered a few weeks ago that one of my neighbors is putting their garbage in my trashcan.

I happened upon it innocently enough. One Monday morning, before work and before the Sanipac truck came by and picked up our garbage, I took a last trash bag out to my can at the curb. When I opened my trashcan, I noticed (a) my can was full! It had NOT been full when I drug it out to the curb the evening before. And (b) there was a cardboard holder for a Corona six-pack in the top garbage bag (it was a flimsy garbage bag). Now, I enjoy a nice tall one every once in a while, but, first, Corona is not my brewskie of choice and, second, I would have recycled the cardboard!

I thought perhaps it was a fluke, that one of my neighbors had too much garbage for their own can and needed a little help that week. Until I looked the next Monday morning. And again, my can was full and the Corona six-pack cardboard holder was part of the extra garbage.

So, I put on my Nancy Drew, Girl Detective hat and started looking for suspects. Actually, I think it's the two guys who rent the house next door. They're very nice neighbors, always wave "Hi!" when our paths cross in our front yards, no loud or crazy parties or police raids at their location. They do, however, keep very odd hours and are rarely home. And, now that I think about it, I don't believe I've ever seen them put a trash can out for collection on Mondays. Unless they're composting every single bit of trash they're creating (and, here in Eugene, that is entirely possible), that last clue seems like a biggie.

Here's the thing, Dear Neighbors--had you asked me if you could put your garbage in my can, I would have said yes. I would have lectured you sternly on the necessity to recycle something as easy as cardboard, but I would have said yes. I don't fill my trash can most weeks, so if I could help a neighbor out by giving away my unused trash can space, I'd be happy to.

It troubles me, though, Dear Neighbors, that you wouldn't have the courtesy to ask. That you'd rather sneak your garbage in after I'd taken the can to the curb. That you'd rather just use what isn't yours. That you figured I'd probably never notice, so no harm done.

Well, I did notice.

It's pretty easy for us to look all straight arrow when we're around others only to play it fast and loose when we think no one can see us. I'm guilty of it. I"m tempted to think I don't have to bother to show common courtesy because the likelihood of anyone noticing is slim to none. I'm pretty sure, however, that the definition of "courtesy" doesn't include a caveat that the amount of courtesy shown is in direct correlation to who's going to notice.

Don't worry, Dear Neighbors, my garbage can is your garbage can. I'm not going to try to catch you or stop you. If my can has the room, your garbage is most welcome. And I'm going to get over the whole "I wish you would have asked me" whining sooner rather than later, just in case you were wondering. But I do have one request.

Please, for goodness' sake, recycle the cardboard.