Nathan wanted cash for the movie, Transformers 2, that he and a few friends are going to see this afternoon.  They’re going to the early show to save money but  Nathan still didn’t have enough cash on hand, so he and Ryan just returned from bringing the recycling to the recycling center.  These are the times I really like the fact that Nathan can drive.

We’ve been recycling for as long as I can remember.  The boys are pretty used to it being a part of our routine and have even encouraged some of their friends to do it, too.   And apparently really buff football-player types also recycle.

Nathan was recounting his recycling experience of this afternoon to me when he got back.  “Mom, I saw three kids I know from school at the recycling center.  They were seniors and just graduated.  It was two guys and one of their girlfriends.  I couldn’t believe they were there.  I mean these guys are really huge.  They’re the type of guys you don’t mess with.  And they were recycling.   They had a TON of stuff!”

I could tell by the way he was describing them that he was in awe, probably because of their size and the fact that they were seniors who now had diplomas.  But also because they were bringing in their cans and bottles.

Then Nathan goes on to tell me how one of them offered to help him put his stuff in the bins.  “That was so nice.  I mean he just said that I probably had better things to do with my afternoon and he helped me.  This really buff guy.”  I think he was impressed that buff don’t-mess-with-me guys can be really cool.

So Nathan walked away with $25.53 and a lesson about judging people before you get to know them.  He’s on his way to the movies, but first he’s going to stop off at the lemonade stand just up the street.  I wonder if those little kids will look at Nathan, who’s been spending a lot of his summer time at the gym and looks pretty buff himself, and be in awe that a buff older kid would stop at their stand for lemonade.