i’m a big fan of shel silverstein. his books, although simple, are profound. i’m also a big fan of mid-century modern era flatware. on a recent excursion thrifting i found the most amazing, incomplete set. four tapered forks, one knife, four spoons and three serving utensils all for 99 cents. missing pieces. how could i resist?
it takes losing something to realize that you ever had something, and losing something to realize how much you already have. i have lost earrings, sunglasses, keys, phones, lip glosses…and bigger, more important things, too: people, friends, pets. when things get lost or things leave my life, it’s difficult, perplexing and weighty all at the same time. i once lost an elsa peretti bone cuff bracelet on a delta flight from virginia to los angeles. i had already deplaned and made my way to ground transportation when i realized it was no longer around my wrist. i felt panic stricken — and hopeless, because knew it was gone forever. a gift from benmont, i wore it every day and it had sort of become a part of me. yes, i can always buy another one, as the piece is still made, but that is not the point, no that is not the point at all. i having been wondering what the point is exactly. when we lose something, the feeling of loss settles within us and makes itself at home. big or small, it’s all relative depending on one’s inclinations. what might be a traumatic loss for me (bracelet, friend, et cetera) might not be so big or important in your world. i think the point is that finding the missing pieces in one’s life isn’t the goal. or rather, it shouldn’t be. the goal i think, maybe possibly perhaps, is to truly be alive in the world — and quite often to really BE happy, we have to have the search. we must not, under any circumstance whatsoever, settle. one piece might not fit. or maybe it fits for awhile. or maybe it’s a placeholder for the right thing. i may never ever find the rest of my flatware set – but i might, you know. and that is what keeps me going, keeps me on track and keeps me searching.
the hope.
“so on and on it rolled, having adventures, falling into holes and bumping into walls”.
©littlebrownbutterfly
Thanks for this. – AD
love ya, ad-
you don’t have to settle to settle down.