toy truck, circa 1962 (still life series, the things we keep)
I don’t know why I still have this, though the short answer is I’ve somehow failed to throw it away. I certainly haven’t carried it around since I was a kid for some sentimental reason. It was likely “regifted” along with other personal things when my mother sold her house - to move closer to her grandson - and redistributed boxes of her children’s stuff back to said children to have and to hold, to toss or keep. I kept this truck, set it on my desk, told my boy this was your dad’s toy. He was unmoved I’m sure. It was simple, rolled awkwardly with a couple of missing wheels, didn’t light up, or make great noise. I have no recollection of playing with it, or that it was even special to me as a child. But once I had one - a child - it brought a little joy just seeing it, knowing where it’d been. What had been an object of affection as a child now realized a second life in the last 20 years sitting on my desk. Just maybe, during this time, we can appreciate even embrace simple things that may not have much value but bring joy in the memories they conjure. Joy is a good thing to have around.