"It's not my most prized possession," The Mate tried to tell him, but he was already lost in his rant. Fair enough; I'm not thrilled about the configurations of work, family, and health that make it almost impossible for me to live without a car, given the sorry state of public transit in this part of the world.
But then I got to thinking about the idea of "prized possessions" -- because ordinarily, I wouldn't use the two words in the same sentence.
Sure, I have stuff; and sure, I like much of my stuff: I'm particularly fond of the desk I'm typing this on, because it belonged to my Great Aunt Helen, who was a smart and independent woman in a time when it wasn't easy to be all those things at once.
Plus, she was a librarian, and if I prize anything, I guess it's my books, in the aggregate. I love getting lost in a narrative or following an argument; I love re-visiting a favorite book and savoring the language and the flow of ideas or images.
But really, I prize the intangibles.
The Mate and the Offspring. Family, and extended family, who are smart, creative, funny, and committed to making the world a better place.
My job, which allows me to spend my time reading, and thinking and talking about books, with good students and valued colleagues.
Living in New York, where there are a gazillion more smart, creative, independent people (who do things like this, and this). And of course I can't forget The Pet.
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Once upon a time, we had a car we kept on the street, and yes, it got broken into a bunch of times. I never forgot, though, the time the burglar left behind his odd and antique screwdriver. Somewhere, we still have that screwdriver.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time explaining this concept to my family -- who DOES value "things" -- I don't care that I drive a squeaky, ancient Ford Escort wagon -- I love my house, though it's a tiny, expanded Cape -- but mostly, I love my dogs, my cats, and time with Hubby - valued over anything else.
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