Check Before You Throw Away

               Going to the mailbox lately has NOT been worth the trip as I had mentioned in an earlier post. The other day we received three pieces of mail addressed to Richard and one to “Current Resident” – that right there tells me it is probably not worth my time.  I would have just trashed it based on that, but handed it to Richard along with the other garbage (like his last opportunity to switch insurance or purchase a burial plot or apply for credit or something like that) and put the bill aside as I’ll need to pay it.

          He opened the one from the CDC Foundation – the one addressed to resident.  A bribe enclosed to be part of an important national study.  An actual bribe with a promise of more to come if only you’ll participate.  Richard said he had done it before and it paid out.  He said I could have a turn and get paid 10 dollars for it.

          As I sat down to start the survey Jaime came into the room and I asked her if she would like to do the survey instead.  She said she would – which was good as the selection of candidates that CDC was searching for would preferable fall into the ages of 18-24.  Jaime just happens to be 18. 

          The survey advised that the surveyor find a private moment and place to do the survey – to be answered honestly without the eyes of prying parents I guess.  Only in Jaime’s case she wasn’t going to take the time to fill it out on her own (they promised only 20 questions – or did it say 20 minutes?) as she doesn’t like to read but will willingly answer the questions if someone will read them to her.  Thus she did not do this privately as recommended but I knew her answers were truthful.

          The questions for this particular survey had to do with drugs – mostly e-cigs and vaping and other tobacco products but also bigotry and bullying – which Jaime doesn’t even recognize for herself but is aware of it as used against others.  For taking the survey she has been promised to receive not 10 but 20 dollars!  Just for answering a few a fair amount of questions.  Cool.

          Moral of the story: Do not throw anything away from CDC Foundation.  Take a peek at what is inside.  Perhaps that might apply to other “junk” mail as well.