One of the days last week was poised to be a relaxing time free from worries.

I had my daily share of skimming through different platforms on social media. I compared the perspectives of two or three outlets for the same content about national and international issues, mainly referring to technology.

I stopped at a historic photo page that I have been following for years. The page was a place to share historical images among members, yet, it had nothing other than reposted photos. Most are posted from smartphones, comments from viewers with similar gadgets, lacking well-thought reactions from accounts with labeling terms of belittling or self-endearment.

I had to leave my house to attend to an issue at the Kebele office in the heart of the city, right after the bi-weekly dry waste collection crew completed their work and left the neighbourhood.

As I reminisce about the days when the crew used horse-drawn carts and how far they came through the years- a significant change with the heavy-duty dry waste compactor truck, a young girl from one of the alleyways appeared with a big-sized bucket full of mélange waste and emptied the content at the clean neighbourhood.

It was a token of what nowadays is the hallmark of waste disposal in Addis Abeba. It is as if there needs to be a tip-toe sign leading to the waste dumping collection point that reads “throw the waste away” and "to the waste dump”. It seems there is a long way to go.

A disturbing and annoying paradox threatened to spoil my day, but passing by the area associated with community get-togethers in the neighborhood was enough to sway back my mood with its “I cannot wait” holiday vibe.

I pondered and found it hard to determine why the young girl could not heed the alarming bugle call of the collectors. At the same time, it jingled a wake-up call in my mind, whether we likewise have the appetite for addressing what is happening in our vicinity.

To top that off, an ambulance driver in a hurry approached and asked me the location, known by a specific name I did not recognise. I learned later that it is very close to my house and that the driver had proceeded in the wrong direction.

I came out to the main road posing the question to myself.