“Look, look” was the opening sentence in the first-grade readers from which many of us learned to read so many years ago, myself included. Today, when I write, “Look, look” I refer to the contents of the recycling bins curbside while walking through the neighborhood.

Walking, when possible, is touted as wonderful exercise and many bubbes and zadehs are avid walkers. I suggest a glance at the recycling bins sitting out on the curb on designated pick-up days. It’s an opportunity to see modern living in a small box.

I walk almost daily (except now when I have a heel stress fracture), usually at least 10 miles a week. A passing glance at the visible portions of the recycling containers reveals something about the lives of those who live in the corresponding houses. A lot of empty beer bottles may indicate beer drinkers or a recent party of age-appropriate adults. One of my favorites sights is the cartons that once held diapers or baby food jars, now empty, indications of the presence of a baby. Boxes of what held children’s cereals, small juice containers, and cookie packaging may note children living there. Lots of water bottles may be from athletes like runners or cyclists or walkers, or it may be a sign of people interested in certain types of drinking water.

Tall stacks of newspapers and magazines probably bespeak readers. Which newspapers or magazines are also indicators of interests. It really can be very instructive and interesting, though incorrect conclusions are possible and often more than likely. Since I only glance at the recyclables and never go through them or touch them, I note only that which is openly visible from a topical glance. That sounds familiar in meeting different people. As in “Never judge a book by its cover.”

Other recyclables easily seen are old sports equipment lying on the curb grass. They may be saying that either the kids are grown and no longer live at home or the parents are recovering jocks. Do you see old scratched toys, a child-size rocking chair that leans to one side, and the kiddies games with parts missing? Likely the kids who once played with them are now adults living out of town with children of their own.

There is, however, one item that shows up in a number and variety of house recycling bins. They are flat, square cartons an inch or two high with attached covers. They sport many different logos, colors, and graphics. All of them once held pizza. It’s more difficult to decide who ordered out and ate the pizza pies. It could be anyone of any age — there’s no way to know about this universal treat.

If you see rinsed-out gefilte fish containers or hollow matzo cartons, you can be reasonably sure that someone Jewish lives there. The same goes for other ethnic food containers that are empty and may indicate the ethnicity of the people who live there.

Imagine who lives in the large or small house, what they like to do, what they like to eat, what they like to read. You won’t have all the answers, but it’s fun and creative to speculate and relieve some passing boredom. Imagination is exercise too, mental exercise. See you on Broad Street? “Look, look.”