Saturday, November 14, 2009

I Gave A Gift, I Got A Gift

Some days you sort of need a reason to go take that walk and today mine was that I was going to stop off at Ms. Liola's house on Main Street and give her some cuttings of firespike to root. So I cut the beautiful blooming things and put them in a quart jar and took off down the road to her house and knocked on her door and handed them over. She was happy with them. I told her to let them root all winter in a not-very bright area and then to plant them in the spring.

We talked about our families and so forth and then I went on my way down the road on my usual path and at one point I needed to pee.

This is not unusual for me on a walk which lasts more than half an hour. I'm old. I've had four babies. Etc. So I stepped off the path and into the woods and found a secluded spot and squatted, got up, pulled myself together and was walking back to the path when I came upon this:


What the fucking fuck? It's about the size of a cigar box, has a screen bottom and is, yes, a box of some sort. It's so fragile that I barely made it home intact. The letters are made of bent metal. It was on a pile of wood, sitting right there on top, and it has to have been sitting there for quite some time because as soon as I picked it up, it started to fall apart. The wood is so rotten that the little brackets which hold the letters in place are falling out. In fact, I had to carry the C home in my pocket.

Anyway, I brought it home and took it's picture and now it's sitting on the old typewriter on my front porch. It's beautiful to me and I have no idea what its purpose was or what sort of place it adorned. A home? What was the screen in the bottom for? Was there a top? Who took the time to make those letters and put them there on the front?

Any ideas?

I feel like the woods gave me a present today and it's nice to be reminded that stepping off the path occasionally, whether to pee or for some other purpose, can lead to things you never could have imagined.

12 comments:

  1. I say you try to refurbish it and then use it to place pretty towels and handmade soaps in your guest bath. I love it just the way that it is.....just need to make it stronger.

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  2. Oh gosh, what a treat, and all because you peed in the woods, well and brought those cuttings to a friend. I don't know what fire spike is, but I like the name. I love this post. I love the letters. I love you carrying the C home in your pocket. And I love your old typewriter. I have one too, on my desk. I don't know what this was in it's former life, but WELCOME is the perfect word for you. You are so welcoming. A real treasure. And a good lesson for me, who is often afraid to step off the path (or even walk it for that matter). Happy Saturday.

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  3. thats such a beautiful story..:-) and its wonderful that the world let you that you are welcome..:-)

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  4. i suppose the woodland fares are lettng you know that you are welcome to pee in their fairie ring any time. count yourself blessed. most of us would experience poison ivy or some such torment after taking the 'wrong' turn in the woods.

    what an incredible blessing, ms moon. how very random, and what a lovely affirmation...

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  5. that's amazing. talk about GOOD OMEN!

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  6. Rebecca- No way. There's not enough left to it to refurbish. It is crumbling.

    Bethany- I know. It was a sweet little find in the woods.

    Danielle- If that's what it means, I'll take it.

    Adrienne- I know! So random!

    Screamish- Or at least very good luck today.

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  7. I just have to share this small story: cute bf and I were out the other night...while driving home I absolutely HAD to pee. I told him "I am dying". That's how bad. And god bless this man of mine, he pulled over on Route 50 and I peed. And he just lets it be. Cause pee is pee. And I don't care about those things but some people do. And your story made me smile so much.

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  8. Thanks for the smile. What a treasure you found, I will wonder for some time what it was used for. I imagine sieving sand for treasure, or draining dishes. We will never know, will we?
    It is perfect atop your typewriter. Is there any corner of your home that is NOT fascinating??

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  9. how delightful! i love when the universe gifts us with things like this! so unexpected and random. it was waiting for you to love it.

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  10. Yes, it's a message from the universe!

    Could it be for panning for gold? For keeping your keys in? Your tree keys?

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  11. See? this is why we have our own "a gift for a gift" law in our family.
    You deserve that gift because no one could ever be more welcome than you anywhere. Love to you sweet Mary. (And you don't look old at all, just beautiful as we say in French "a woman of a certain age...")

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  12. Tiff- When you gotta pee- pee. That's what I say.

    Mel- It's a big house. And yes, there are plenty of places that are, well, plain. But many are not.

    Learner- And I DID!

    Jo- See the newer post. For feeding birds in. I think. And that is lovely, too.

    Allegra- I think I am going to write a post very soon about how beautiful older women are. Thank you, beautiful woman.

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