Downsizing

I know, I know. It’s high time we all started thinking about getting the mountain of treasures we’ve accumulated over all these years in some kind of order. (I just can’t bring myself to say “throw the stuff away…..but you know what I mean.)


So far, “thinking about it” is as far as I’ve gotten. However, I have stopped going to thrift shops and yard sales. As my wife so sweetly points out, ”You don’t need any other people’s junk to add to your own junk.”


Junk?  Hah!  I beg to differ..


Over the years I’ve found some real gems! Most of which I bought for  bargain prices! However, there was one I brought home that I didn't select

It selected me.

I’m talking about my styrofoam angel, pictured here. Other than the dress, the face and the wings…..it’s insides are styrofoam. It’s 2 feet high….and as you can imagine, very light. So light in fact that when I accidentally bumped into the bookcase in the small thrift shop, it fell from its position on the upper shelf…….and landed right into my arms!


I wasn’t in the market for a styrofoam angel that day….but…..how could I resist that obvious message from above.


It's been sitting here in my studio for several years now, and not being superstitious, I don’t believe it has anything to do with bringing me good luck.

But, so far, I haven’t had any bad luck.


There is one supposedly “good luck” symbol that I picked up later at that same shop. It’s a ceramic figure of a man carrying all sorts of utensils and goodies in a sack on his back. He’s called Ekeko……he’s a symbol of good luck to the people of Peru. Kinda like a Peruvian Santa Clause.


Unfortunately, I brought bad luck to Ekeko……….I dropped him and broke off his leg.

Finally, look what else I found in my favorite Falls Church, Virginia thrift shop!

 -Ed