When I was a child, the story is told, I took every gift I would receive to bed with me and slept with it…toys, items of clothing (including shoes, socks, underwear)…everything. I can only interpret that as my way of bonding with the new things that came into my life.
Nowadays that is utterly impractical. My bed is too small, for one thing. My toys, though no less precious to me now, are generally not built to withstand a great deal of late-night cuddling. And, let’s face facts folks, only in the most rarified of moods would Mary allow me to bring R2-D2 to bed with me…
But old habits die hard…or do not die at all. To this day I have little rituals that I do with new things that come into my life that allow me to enjoy and cherish them in the same spirit of joy that I did as a sleeping child.
I set them on my desk at home, or in my office…somewhere that I can see them, sense their presence…somewhere close enough that I can take a moment to pick them up and handle them and admire them. You see, I get pretty attached to things. I always have. It is that same attachment, I surmise, that has taught me to appreciate the texture, the fabric, the shape, the color, the movement, etc. of books and art and objects and the many other things that surround me in daily life.
Recently, I have come to discover that there is a way to take this a step farther: the internet. I have discovered that I love to see pictures of other people’s stuff, especially if taken with some degree of creativity (can everybody say ‘book porn’?)
and I love to practice with my camera and share my stuff as well. Despite how self-indulgent that may seem, I have found that it is one of the most effective ways of accomplishing one of the many objectives I have for this blog: to share many of the things that I am interested in with those who have similar interests as well as maybe open people up to things they didn’t know they were interested in.
If you’ve been keeping score at home, you may have noticed something about this post…I now have in my possession the animated Princess Leia maquette. I did such a great job marketing Star Wars swag the other week that I convinced myself!
And so I took a little time today to have some fun with Leia…
and R2…
(If you want more fun with Leia, click each word [and the first picture after the ‘more’ jump])
I’m the same way with stuff. I’ve been called a “packrat” many times and attach to things very quickly. I could fill up a house and have in fact with books, comics, action figures, paper, knick knacks, art, and all kinds of stuff and love sharing it with others and showing it off. I also love posts like this and am very voyeuristic when it comes to other people’s cool stuff 😉 In the word’s of Quix: “yay for bookporn!”
Love the Leia and R2 by the way! I would say you should talk Mary into letting you keep it in the bed, but it looks breakable 😉
I was smiling the whole time I was reading that. And while doing so I was admiring your photography. Very creative range of poses. I love all my stuff and am constantly adding more. I tried an exercise I read about. It was to relax and close your eyes and picture various things one owns. I hadn’t realized until then that my stuff holds my memories for me. I spent the day planting, in pots, and I must have gone outside a number of times just to admire the flowers. I hadn’t thought that I was bonding with them until I read your blog. Very fun, thank you.
I really like the Leia design. There is something of a 1920’s flapper girl look to her, like there is to Red, which I really like.
That is a really interesting relaxation idea, Pat. Probably actually works the ol’ brain as well…something I’m sure I can do with as much as possible! 😉
It was a beautiful weekend, weatherwise, wasn’t it? I’m sure your flowers are wonderful.
I saw that they recently put up the picture for the animated Chewbacca maquette. It is great:
I’m finding it difficult to get busy and get ready for work. I just want to sit on my patio and breathe and admire the flowers. I liked your idea of putting lavender in a pot, I may need to add one more. Chewbacca is great; another one of my favorites. Have a relatively peaceful day at work.
I didn’t realize until I read your post ,Carl that I do exactly the same thing! If I get a new picture or re-do a room ,I constantly go to look and admire whatever I have bought or planted,etc. Uh oh-you picked up some of my traits,Carl. After I plant my potted flowers,Pat,I like to go out and keep admiring them. I love sping when the new flowers arrive in the greenhouses. Dad gets tired,I’m sure, of following me around and getting the best ones!!
Great pics, Carl-you do a good job!!
And yes you did take everything new you received to bed with you!
i can totally relate. i’m equally ceremonious with anything i buy (i thought it was only me – my wife sure thinks its odd…). whenever i buy something i love having it out for a while. somewhere prominent, like my bedside table. i even have my birthday presents on display on my bedside table (or similar place)…
i also have to hold it in my hands and look at it. and then put it down again and have it in my sightline… even if its just a bunch of dvds, i still have to put them on the coffee or dinner table “on display” and celebrate that i now have them.
Funny that you bring the birthday stuff up, Jean Pierre. I will often leave all my birthday stuff together on the table or on my desk for awhile and at Christmas we like to pile our presents back under the tree for awhile just to enjoy them.
OMG at first I thought that was a blowup doll!
Oh my, now Mary would have a real problem sharing the bed with that! LOL!
Blow up doll…ooo..great idea for the next Friday Favorites!!! 😉
Oh, Janet and James get the prize for best laugh of the day!
… and so the lovely lady leiha jumps onto carl’s crafty soft bed and mutters: “what now baby?”
To which Carl responds: “well, you could put down the gun ..heh”
To which Carl’s lovely wife responds: “by all means, I’ll hold that for you!”
Ok, Deslily is tied with Janet and James for best laugh of the day :p
Love the photos Carl, and I really do like the style of the figure.
I know what you mean about bonding with new acquisitions. I do the same – keep them on my desk close at hand to pick up and admire. My journals from Stormfilled have been sitting on my desk since I received them, and I keep picking them up and feeling them, looking at them and pondering what I will fill them with. Same goes for any new books, particularly limited editions like the Subterranean Press releases.
I think you guys are confusing Princess Leia with that other recent acquistion, Princess Lay Me…. 😉
I came across this picture today which I thought was really fun:
oh sure make me drool why don’t you?!
Love that photo you came across.
As you already know I think your new statue is amazing.
The blow up comment had me rolling too. I can’t wait to see where that friday favorite idea leads too.
Is it wrong that I sort of imagine you saying things like “Yes! Work it!” while you took these?
There was that, and the Marvin Gaye music in the background….
I’ve been really tryiiiiiing Leia…trying to hold back these feeling for sooo long..
Ha! 🙂
i love the leia maquette! that opening moment is just so iconic! she and R2 just look so cool together when she’s wearing that outfit.
i’m sorely tempted to get one myself…!
Who is the artist for the Chewbacca Marquette? i really want to know