Dear Glass Lovebirds Statue We Bought at Service Merchandise,
God, you were beautiful. And I was so proud of you. My sister and I bought you for our parents’ anniversary when we were still little. We must have had help from someone – I’m guessing a grandparent – who gave us some money and convinced our mother to let us choose something unsupervised from the home decor section.
First of all, I knew we were making a solid purchase because we bought you from Service Merchandise, one of the very best stores. The only downside about the place was that it took forever to get there and by the time we all tumbled out of the VW bus and into the parking lot I was both sleepy and nauseous. But that was OK. It was a place where the whole family could shop. They had TVs, camcorders, and Cabbage Patch dolls. They had jewelry in cases (which made it FANCY) and awesome, beautiful sculpture like you, Glass Lovebirds. They wrapped you in tissue (fanciness – confirmed!) and I almost went cross eyed with concentration as I carried you back to that VW van.
Our parents put you on the mantel and I admired you for years until you mysteriously disappeared. Strange. I used to like to trace my fingers along your etched glass wings. I know my mom thought we spent too much on you. But it was a time in my life when I had just realized something about what marriage was. Not all of it – not nearly all of it – but the decision involved. Our parents had decided to get married and have us. They had decided to create our family. I felt compelled to honor that with something beautiful, and boy did you fit the bill, Glass Lovebirds. My conviction that you were perfect was as clear as my conviction that we were a perfect family. As clear as the glass of your sweet, round chests. It was a good moment.
Thank you for being lovely,
-e.