Turning trash into ‘end of the road’ items

In a world of endless disposables and the sparking joy movement, trash, consignment and donations have created a mountain of “the end of the road” items.

Carol Gee thinks otherwise. “Whatever is thrown away, I see the beauty in those things.

“Growing up, nothing was ever wasted in our house, everything was reused, repurposed, or recycled,” said Gee. “Leftover bologna? Add a few spices and you have bologna casserole. Okay, just kidding, but you get the idea.”

Gee is a do-it-yourselfer, re-creating things out of unwanted items.

She said she doesn’t think there is a perpetual way to keep certain things sustain- able, “but I always feel like if even making a small step — like keeping things out of the landfill for a time — that’s making a step in the right direction.

“Things on the side of the road, mortify my husband,” she said.

She’s constantly returning in her car to pick up what’s been placed on the side of the road or curb.

Talking about sustain- ability today, Gee looks for ways of cause and effect. “For example, my husband lets the water run while he’s brushing his teeth. A lot of these actions or lack thereof are learned behaviors,” Gee said. “Changes will not hap- pen overnight, but through practice it might just stick as a new way.” Gee has retired twice. She was active duty in the Air Force for eight years and then the reserves for 14. Seven years ago she retired from Emory after working almost another 22 years. In what she calls a “feast of words,” Gee has compiled

77 pages of easy reading into a book ent i tled “G i lded

Pearls.”

She also mentors and teaches. She is all about sharing.

“In 2009, I received Emo- ry’s Center For Women’s Unsung Heroine Award for my mentoring of women and male students at Emory as well as my books that empower women and girls.

“As for me, I don’t have children, but I am considered a ‘mother-figure’ ... and am honored to hold each title,”

Gee said.

These days, Gee says, she is more like family, friend and confidant, than a mentor.

Over the past two years she has participated in DeKalb

County Library’s Skillshare program where she teache s women how to take trash to treasure. She recently taught a class on creating artwork at the Clarkston Library. “Learn to look at things dif- ferently. Some of the things we throw away might be use- ful in some way if we give it a thought,” she said. “I’m doing my life’s work now. I enjoyed my two other careers and was very successful, but doing things like sharing and teaching what I know — that’s what I live for,” Gee added.

CONTRIBUTED Carol Gee’s vision gives new life to items we throw away without a second thought: a cap from a room deodorant can covered in lace and a decoupaged onion dip can. Both can be used to corral safety pins, buttons, loose coins.