No longer determined to die. (Photo courtesy of nolastname, August 2010)
Last week, when they first published my story, I thought I was taking my last breath — but, somehow, my diaphragm just kept on going.
The next day, when someone started taking pictures of me, it was early morning and I really wasn’t in any mood. Then, the photographer told me that life is like that. Every day is a sunset. Some days it’s a lovely sunset, some days pretty dull — but, there’s always a sunrise. Even if the clouds obscure it, the sun rises.
I suddenly felt some hope, and taking my last breath wasn’t the only thing I could think about. This ain’t no kind of life for a shopping cart, but things could be worse, I suppose. I mean, I could have ended up in the Gowanus Canal, instead of near Caesar’s Bay or whatever place this is.
Shopping cart dying on the rocks. (Courtesy of MSniceguy, August 2010)
Ashes to ashes. Metal to metal.
Here I am, taking my last breath. I know you didn’t see me covered by the gentle waves hitting the rocks, and I know it’s hard to see my clunky metal when you’re thinking of the lovely (though, somewhat hazy) Verrazano Bridge view.
If my wheels must take its last roll, it’s better that I die here with this lovely sunset than buried under some cold, dark soil.
Shopping cart in search of a locksmith to let him back into his home. (Photo courtesy of Stefanee Rivera))
A reader, Stefanee Rivera, sent us this photograph of a lost shopping cart and gave us the background story.
This poor little guy was found early Saturday morning seeking assistance from the locksmith inside. Apparently he got locked out of his house (Walbaum’s) and couldn’t find a neighbor to help. He wandered over to the locksmith on Ave. X and Ocean Ave. for some help getting back inside. The nice locksmith who works there called his parents and told them he was waiting for them at the shop. They said they would be “right over” to pick him up. However, according to the locksmith, at 3:45PM, the lonely little shopping cart was still there waiting for his mom and dad. I suggested he call the Administration for Shopping Cart Services (ASCS) if they hadn’t come to pick him up by closing time.
Hearing the news that the shopping complex where the Waldbaum’s store is located has been sold for $10 million, may have made him a little nervous about his family’s future.
Shopping cart and pillow bed mattress. (Photo courtesy of nolastname, 2010)
Roaming the streets of Sheepshead Bay all day with these bags of cans sure can be tiring.
I guess it’s not as bad as some have it. At least I have some shelter (the Belt Parkway overpass at Ocean Avenue) and a place to rest my head at night or day or whenever the mood takes me.
Now, if I could only get me a pillow and some sheets. Oh, yeah, and some earplugs, ‘cuz that Belt Parkway rumbling and bridge renovation sure does keep me awake!
Nothing is better on a beautiful summer day, than sweet smelling bouquets of fresh flowers.
Not! Because, actually, these flowers are not real. They’re synthetic and my owner put them on me to make me feel better that I’m just a rolling bottle & can carrier. In my previous life, I belonged to The Sports Authority. I used to carry rough and tough sportswear, sneakers, and equipment. Now, clinky cans and bottles.
At least this picture was taken of me when I’m not loaded up with hundreds of recyclables set for redemption. Still, my gorgeous red color has to compete with not just the flowers, but the red blouse of the pedestrian and the red paint on the car parked across the street (Nostrand Avenue). I guess that’s still better than having to compete with the owner’s dog. When I heard that I might be shown pictured with that pooch, I asked them to just put this picture up, instead. It’s bad enough that my distinctive features have to be overshadowed by the flowers, the last thing I need is man’s best friend stealing my thunder!
I’m the lovely red shopping cart just kidnapped from the Staples Office Super Store on the corner of Avenue Y and Ocean Avenue. But, who’s going to be looking for or at me in this post?
Someone stuck this cutie pie baby into me and rolled us over to the brand new P.S. 254 playground. Talk about getting overshadowed. Will anyone notice my lovely red paint or will they just see his baby soft skin? Why do I even ask?
My photograph was submitted way back in November of 2009! Yes, I said 2009.
Apparently, the editors were afraid of the mixed messages that might be sent by a shopping cart sitting on a window ledge. But, what’s the big deal? Let people think what they want. So, I’m an undersized cart perched precariously on a window ledge where there are no child-safety bars. So, what? I may be small, but I’m no kid and I don’t think I’m Superman. I was just hanging out enjoying a quiet morning view, so please don’t call the ACS (Administration of Cart Services) or they’ll arrest my owner for neglect.
It’s not like I’m thinking of ending it all or planning revenge by throwing myself headfirst onto some unsuspecting human.
Carts put out with the garbage. (Photo by Ray Johnson)
By the time you see me, it will most likely be too late. I’ll be gone, gone, gone. Oh, but it’s not just me this time, it’s me and a small-sized pedestrian cart that got stuffed into me. Sure, that little thing is not as sturdy as I am, being more susceptible to breakdowns — but he is still recyclable!
I feel like a piece of garbage. The funny thing is, there’s nothing wrong with me. I have all my wheels about me. But, even if I’m missing a couple of screws, I’m sure it’s easily fixed. What’s wrong with these shoppers? They drag me all the way from my job at Pathmark Supermarket (3785 Nostrand Avenue) and leave here on the street. Who knows how many hands pushed me around since then, and why those hands left me here in front of P.S. 254 (1801 Avenue Y) for garbage pickup?
Why didn’t the Sheepshead Bay Pathmark supermarket pick up when a Good Samaritan tried to call? Let’s hope the New Jersey headquarters can get through to the store manager in time. If not, I might try and convince the driver of this yellow school bus to take me to Boro Park. Life can only be better over there at that school. Just so happens the only Hebrew word I can think of is, “chaim”. It just might be the one word I can utter to save my life!
Well, hello there! It’s such a nice night out, and I’m just cartin’ about, enjoyi–
Who the heck am I kidding? My name is Red Jerke. I’m a very… freakin’… tired shopping cart. You see, I haul about 30 bags a week. Thirty bags! And that’s not just moving them around. It’s marketing them; it’s trying to sell things to go next to them; it’s spotting the bits to fill future bags with…
And that’s not to mention my other duties. I’ve got to be all friendly to people who like to push me around; I’ve got to listen to old people tell me about the kinds of bags they think I should carry; I’ve got to find other carts and tell them to fill some bags for me. Jeez! It’s exhausting work!
But on top of it all, my cohort Nay Bohnson, she goes and takes a vacation and skips town on the one bag a week she promises to carry. One bag! And she needs a vacation. Oy vey!
Thanks to Boris G. for the photo, taken underneath the overpass at Ocean Avenue and Shore Parkway.
Doing service in a basement garage.(Photo courtesy of Boris G)
This photograph of me was taken way back in January. Why they didn’t post me until now is a mystery to me. I’m just as glamorous and colorful as all those other carts rolling around the streets. It’s not my fault that I got captured and put into service here at this Ocean Avenue building’s dark and dismal parking garage. So, my resolution and color is not the best, but at least you can still see my always garaged race car-t red. See how I stand out against that drab car seat and credenza? Just because cell phone cameras aren’t made to take pictures in low-light conditions does that mean that I can’t be featured?
And the nerve of the Shopping Cart Post “writer” trying to explain away why it took so long to get me up, “Oh, oops, I’m sorry. I could have sworn I posted you earlier. I even remember someone (Lisanne?) writing in a comment about this being a basement…or something. I guess I was just dreaming.” Pfffft!
