I Live In a Van Down By the River

I put two garbage bags of junk into my husband’s car trunk. I am ready to start filling up the lonely green dumpster. Most of the year he sits forlornly with two or three measly bags. I am off school for eight weeks; so I am giving him some food. He is green and hideously ugly, but a terrific landmark. Because we live in an earth home, people do not see our house. They fly past our driveway, not noticing it either. Sometimes their GPS laughs as they drive back and forth. “When you see a green dumpster, turn in,” I tell them. “If you pass a green dumpster, turn around.” “What kind of place do you live?” They ask me. “We live in a van, down by the river.” I delight in saying this. It reminds me of Chris Farley each time.