Happy Independence Day

It's wicked hot outside.

I just spent two hours outside, weeding my garden (I live in New Jersey, I have a yard, I grow tomatoes. It's a tradition; It might even be a law.) I also did some other random garden work, including cutting back the mums for the last time of the season- this action took me into the front yard.

In the front yard I was approached by a man who rode by on his bicycle. He asked me if I had any work for him; he said he could weed the garden, trim the bushes, anything I needed. He was extremely polite. Unfortunately, I had to decline; I had just finished what I planned to get done today.

Here's the thing; I know this man. He comes into where I work occasionally. I don't think he recognized me- I was sweaty and filthy from working in the yard, and I certainly didn't have on nice work clothes. He's always extremely polite. He practices his English with us and we try to speak back in Spanish. I've seen him in a t-shirt from a local lawn company, so I know he has some yard work experience. I wonder if he has kids, or someone else he supports.

He's not looking for a handout.

He's riding around a small Central Jersey town on a bicycle, on this wicked hot and humid holiday, looking to earn a living.

Happy Independence Day.