Something Special

I remembered something, today, that was very special to me. It is not a big thing but a tiny one: the item is small but the thought behind it was large.

Recently, Steve and I went to Reno to visit with Larry and Mona. We spent a weekend together that was almost non-stop with activities. Larry and Mona took us downtown to the local casinos where we ate at their favorite eateries. We gambled a little, walked, talked, and gawked amidst the nightlife going on around us. Mona and I got to enjoy perusing a large craft fair, while the guys searched out a bank and a cigar store. We also, got to see a Reno show of an impersonator who not only mimicked famous people, but he was able to sing and perform like them also. It was amazing. It was my first time seeing a nightclub-type show. Then we spent some time walking up and down the main street of Virginia City. It was here that my special moment happened...

As we arrived, we parked in front of a house that was an antique store. Mona and I excitedly stated our desire to go inside. As is typical of such places, it smelled wonderfully musty and looked old and dusty...though it was not at all dusty. All sorts of items were displayed. All of us enjoyed picking up and looking at stuff. The owner of the store stood and watched us, all the while talking about any item we had questions about. She was very pleasant and she seemed to be our age...so we had many common memories of days gone by. Because her store was part of her home, we got to see her living area. It was like being in a museum of beautifully kept antiques. Her kitchen had the largest display of old enamelware I have ever seen. Her living room had curios cabinets full of little collectibles. Her furniture was hand-turned wooden furniture with rich patina. For me, it was a place that I could have stayed and been most happy in. She shared with us stories of how she came to own a drum from the Civil War. And she told us that a house could be bought for seventy five dollars in the l960's in Virginia City. While she continued to share stories with us, I saw some small items thatcaught my attention. They were old iron circles of various sizes and styles. You could tell from their ornate design that they were from an era where such detail was very important regardless of their use.

I asked her what they were and her reply was that they had been found in her front yard, when they dug up an area to put in a driveway. Three of the circles were the wheels from old wrought iron toys. And the other one was the handle of an old outdoor water faucet. As soon as she said that, I recognized it as such. It was so pretty and had aged nicely so that the metal had a patina on it. And the handle was smooth and pleasant to the touch. It intrigued me and for some unknown reason, I thought it was beautiful. When I asked her how much she wanted for it, she said that I could have it. She was glad to give to someone who appreciated its beauty.

This gesture of kindness impressed me deeply and I was so touched by this lady's understanding of my appreciation and fascination of the faucet handle. As far as I was concerned, it was worth a thousand dollars. I was also impressed that such a tiny insignificant item could elicit such joy from me. Visually and it brought me much pleasure. While handling it, I could see using it as a base to hang chimes from for a wind chime or putting it in a shadow box with other old faucet handles. So, it was that I clasped my treasure tightly in my hands and whooped with glee as I thanked the woman for her gift and left her store knowing that I had the best souvenior of the day! And I still believe that , today! Such a small thing but, such a big deal!