Found Things

I can’t recall when or how it happened. I do not remember a specific find that started it all. What I do know is that at some point in the history of my childhood I fell in love…with junk.

My affinity for what others deem junk or trash runs deep. As a child I spent countless hours searching the woods around my home for buried treasure. There was a mound of rock near the center of the property that housed all manner of glass bottles, porcelain, and ceramic pieces. I would delicately dig them up, hoping they were fully intact. Many times they were so covered in earth it was hard to tell what I had found.

I would gather up my muddy treasures and carry them gingerly though the woods using the front of my t-shirt like a makeshift bag. Once back to the house it was straight to the hose to clean them up. It amazed me that even though they had sat in grime for decades or longer, they could return to thier previous glory with very little effort. I would proudly line them up on the steps of our side deck and watch them dry in the heat of the sun.

My love continues now as an adult. I still get excited when a reflection from the sun catches my eye. I like watching them come back alive after a soak in the sink. With the help of today’s technology I enjoy looking up maker’s marks for glassware, researching manufacturers and dating pieces. Although some go back to the mid 30’s, most are relatively new. Somehow that doesn’t make me appreciate them any less. They all tell a story. A story that reminds us that we are not the first nor the last here on Earth.

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Through many hours hiking with my husband and daughters, I have also discovered natural valuables along the way. Bird feathers, beach glass, deer sheds, a hog’s tooth and an arrowhead have now been added to my list of finds.

I feel blessed to have had so many opportunities to bask in everything mother nature has to offer. Whether natural or man made, there are so many treasures out there to be found. Some marvels you can’t take with you, like the sun warming your back, the birds happily chirping, or an animal darting across your path. These hold even more value, because they are treasures we share with each other.

Some may pine for Coach purses or Italian shoes. Others covet expensive artwork or diamonds. Don’t mind me, I’m just here for the muddy, moldy, treasure.