things

I rotate objects in this display case – which is not even a retired letterpress job case like is all-the-rage- it's just a reglurr ole case. Some of these things are precious, some are random or accidental. Some grow heavier with sentimental value with time, others lose their significance entirely.

1. Just some {megaprecious} lichen. Camping trip to Lake Wapizagonke, July 20, 2011

2. Used Kleenex (X3) from first three sessions of therapy. It does not seem to matter how good a mood I'm in, I step into that office and my eyes well up with projectile tears.

3. Skipping rope handle (bunny-shaped). You know when you see something you like and then you say you like it and then the person holding it says, "here, have it" and then you try to withdraw your affection for that object because now you've got that bullyish/awkward feeling? That's how I acquired this.

4. Sea urchin shell. Gift from friend's mom.

5. (empty)

6. (empty) (When numbers appear in brackets on your credit card statetment, it means you're actually in the positive).

7. Cassette tape circa 1994. Not sure what's on this since I don't have a tapedeck at the moment. I'm hoping it's a mix of Slaughter, Cinderella, maybe some Pearl Jam and Temple of the Dawg.

8. "You're my best friend" embroidery from Elisabeth Belliveau. It glows in the dark, she's my shining star.

9. Mini-bell. Removed from Alden's collar. Purple and not special.

10. Wristwatch. Thrift store find, sentimental value = 0.

11. Bark. From a hike to Camel's Hump in vermont

12. Nothing

13. Moss. I have a vague memory of picking this off a trail and thinking I should take it as a souvenir of this hike. But I don't remember the hike at all. The memory will remain unfired in some farflung neuron. I read an article once that proved – with actual science even! - that every time you recall a memory, you change it slightly. The act of digging up and telling an anecdote requires a bit of chemical reconsolidation which is kinda like reassembling a thousand little bones into a recognizable rodent skeleton, or putting together an Ikea bed after a move to a sunnier apartment. Chances are you'll get it slightly wrong, you'll leave out a couple minor details, or squeeze in a few dramatic embellishments. You might shift your perspective a couple degrees depending who's in the room. And then you're left standing over a seemingly assembled bed with a hex key and two screws in your hand, a pine slat on the ground and a puzzled feeling in your heart. It's sad in a way - the less you recall something, the more accurate it is. If you want to keep the memory of someone untainted by your own imagination, think about them only when absolutely necessary.

14. Rock. Again, no clue. It's not even a nice rock.

15. Blank

16. Lead letter 'K'. 18 pt font-size is my guess. A gift from 2010

17. Baggie containing my ID tag from birth (extremely sentimental) and a shark's tooth from Kandis (extremely special)

18. Birthday candles, some from my 31st and 32nd celebrations. Elisabeth made the cakes these were on. She told me it's bad luck to ever throw them away. I believe every word she says.

19. Another small piece of bark

20. Labrador tea, two buttons by Steven Horwood.

21. Drawing of a guy. Merv drew this in an attempt to describe a customer at the former Esperanza. I still don't know who this is supposed to be but Merv did write the word "blond" next to an arrow pointing to his head, along with the phrase "this guy is very tall" to communicate his impressive stature. I'm sure I'll be in line behind him at the Fruiterie one day and it'll all click.

22. Key to the basement. Practical.

23. Leaf

24. Blue ceramic bird. Do not recall how this came into my life.

25. Russian wind-up clock. Picked up in antique store downstairs from the apartment I was subletting in Berlin. This is what I used to wake up before I got a free ipod Touch with my computer a couple years ago. My ipod will likely soon break, but this clock will keep winding.

Stuff on top: Nancy Drew's Guide to Life, postcard from Pavitra, glasses that are fake

Stuff on bottom: silkscreened cards, leather wallet, matches, Valentino glasses case, beeswax candle, hat.