My Buffet

 A while ago John and I were walking the trash to the dumpster (it’s like our thing) and next to it was an old beautiful buffet someone was getting rid of. I said I liked it and John was like “do you want it?” and I was like “nah” and he was like “ I know you want it” and I said “where am I going to put it?” and finally he said “It doesn’t matter!” (his signature remark), so he wheeled it on a dolly to the trailer (I thought that was too much work for him but he didn’t care). So now it sits on the porch, by the table where I write my blog posts. At first I didn’t know what I was going to put in it, but now it’s full. I started with some little old books I hold near and dear: The Best Poems Ever, The Lilies of the Field, Sonnets from the Portuguese, The Elements of Style. On the top shelf I added three junk journals I made (for months I was junk journaling. It was really fun). On the bottom shelf I put two embroidered pillows from my mother. There’s and owl coffee mug and paper cups from Copperline and Starbucks; three pinecones and a rock I painted a heart on; a little green frog; a white feather (I read that white feathers are signs from angels); a jar of seashells I’ve collected and several random shells. I have a small plaque with the Star of David and Hebrew writing, which I’d love to have translated. And recently I added a small magnet I bought at a yard sale, that says “Citta del Vaticano” above a relief of two hands touching, representing Michelangelo’s painting in the Sistine Chapel. I like it. I cleaned the glass doors with windex and it looks good. And if you read this far and don’t know what a buffet is: it’s wooden furniture with shelves used to display china and such. At least that’s what I call this thing. I painted the back a bright, pea green and stenciled a red and yellow butterfly (not to maim original furniture, but that’s what I did. I get bored and I paint things). I don’t know how old it is, but it’s got that faded off-white antique look. It’s a great piece of furniture; I’m happy to have it, and I’ll keep adding to my menagerie as space allows.