My normal trash pick-up day is Wednesday – as in the crack of dawn and maybe even before that. That means, of course, that Trash Day is really Tuesday – as in “try to get it out in the evening and not wake up at 2 am with the thought: TRASH.

This is especially important in the summer when the daylight lasts long and people take walks and you do not want to set smelly trash bins by the curb until it’s almost dark . . . but that entails thinking “Don’t forget the trash” all day long. It can be onerous.

BUT, when Monday is a holiday, trash pick-up is moved one day later, so all day Tuesday you think your trash mantra and then have to follow it up with: BUT, NO, IT’S TOMORROW. Then when tomorrow comes – which is today – you must not fall into the usual thought process of believing the weekly trash crisis has passed.

NO. It is still hanging over your head. Right now, I am aware that the trash goes out tonight, and I have to think that all day. I do not have a “smart” house that turns on lights and heaven knows what else. No, my house will not tell me at dusk to take the trash out. But, forget the lights, forget the thermostat, forget security, just having the house tell me to get out the door with trash might be worth it. Although, that would involve remembering to change the schedule when a holiday is on Monday . . .

My usual response: SIGH