Through the Labyrynth

Pt 2 of 3
Continued from previous post: The Corner of Crystal and Santa Fe

Being the damned determined city girl that I am, I altered course. The grocery shopping could wait! I HAD to see if the commissioner's office could really be so close!!! The light changed to green, I made the turn and then combed the right side of the street looking for the County Commissioner's office. Sure enough, I soon found the sign to my salvation: County Commissioner. So, I whipped my car into the parking lot, found a spot and prepared how to explain my plight to the commissioner.

I walked in the doors of a 2 story brick building to find myself in the waiting room of a medical office. ...Wait a minute! The sign specifically said "County Commissioner" out side. What the...?

Out of the corner of my eye, in the back left corner of the room I spotted a blue sheet of paper that read: Commissioner's Office. It had an arrow on it that pointed to the door on the right. So, I took a deep breath and followed the directions into a labyrinthine abyss of gray-ish white passageways and doors. Once I reached the end of the hall, there was another sign pointing the way down another corridor. At the end of that hall, there was no other sign, but I peered around the corner to find the next sign with another arrow. I followed several signs this way that lead to an elevator. Next to it was a directory that put the Commissioner's office on the second floor. So, I rode the elevator to the next floor and followed a few more signs to a bright white room that had a sheet of paper that said, "County Commissioner" on it. I went in and there was a couple of desks set up, some cubicle dividers, a couple of open doors ...and not a soul present. Where was everybody? Had I taken a wrong turn in that maze?

About the time that my head was spinning from all this, I heard someone ask if he could help me."I sure hope you can. No one else has been successful yet," I lamented. I explained about the phone call and the neighbors and the city services going to my neighbor but not me and how no one apparently knew who I had to call to get the name of the company for trash services and how needing garbage/recycling services is what began this quest in the first place.

He chuckled and admitted that it may seem "just a bit frustrating" to someone new, but that's why he had his job as commissioner: to make it easier to live in the county- especially for "new folks". So, I told him my address. He confirmed that I should, indeed, receive county services. He looked in his book of wonders (i.e. contacts, etc.) and wrote on the back of his business card all the information I needed to call to get my garbage collection set up.

I thanked him profusely. He told me that if they gave me any problems that I could call him and he would personally straighten it out for me. He knows one of the people who run the company, he explained. I could not thank him enough for the light he had shed on this dark, elusive beast called garbage pick up.

I practically floated through the halls, down the elevator and through the maze out to my car, whipped out my handy-dandy little cell phone and dialed the numbers scrolled across his card. Sure enough, it rang...

I set up my garbage services! YAY! Gave the helpful lady who answered the phone my name, address and credit card number and she told me that someone would be dropping off my garbage can in 7-10 business days (translation: up to 2 weeks). Thanks and have a great day. When I got home and checked my bank account, the funds for the garbage services had already begun their journey to the garbage company… and yes, I know the name of it.

To be continued in next post: Garbage Ninjas