#object lessons

7/5/19

Pictured: my new fave daily use pen on the left on a turquoise towel + my forever fave paintbrush on the right on my spiral notebook.

This paintbrush is something special. I pilfered it from my mom’s old, fancy art supplies when I was probably 12. For a while I used it to paint. Then I used it to apply micaceous pigments on my eyelids bc it’s so soft and spreads & blends color so beautifully. Now use it to paint again.

10 yr old went on camping trip for 1st time without me (has been camping dozens of times).

Me: Remember, check your floor tarp is turned when it rains.

Kid: Yeah, yeah.

Me: Don’t leave your stuff on the floor of your tent -it’ll get wet when it rains.

Kid: *rolls eyes* yes, mom.

Uncle, at camp site: (repeats both cautions above)

Kid: Yes, I know!

Result? (C’mon, make a prediction!)

Yep, kid comes home with 2 tubs of sopping stuff from flooded tent floor when it rained.

The Object Lessons series has a beautifully simple premise. Each book or essay centers on a specific object. This can be mundane (safety pin) or unexpected (female condom), humorous (chili dog) or politically timely (veil). Whatever the subject, these descriptions reveal the rich worlds hidden under the surface of things.

On my last day in Edinburgh, I bought myself these earrings.

I'd steadfastly avoided the touristy shops on the Royal Mile, but that last misty day a display of silver in the window drew me in. I'd bought myself a handful of inexpensive souveniers over the past two weeks, but I wanted to get myself one really nice thing that I'd love and use and that could symbolize my freedom and adventure.

I went round and round the shop for at least thirty minutes, debating the merits of thistles over celtic knots, pearls over emeralds. But in the end, it was always these.