Stuff, Part 2: No Souvenirs?
It was almost a conspiracy. Packing for a big trip, we’d
think of some clever way to bring treasures back home.
It started with us trying to put most of our clothes in one
suitcase, leaving the other almost empty. That eventually morphed into cramming
an old soft-side bag in the suitcase. An extra bag for all the things we would
buy, of course.
Then, we’d bring nothing home. Almost never.
I’m not so sure that bringing something home from a trip
isn’t some sort of proof that you were actually there. Because that picture of
you standing in front of the Eiffel
Tower
Many years ago, I bought my wife a new dress in Mexico . It was festive,
colorful, and asked (very loudly), “Hey, guess where this dress came from?!”
She wore it once. That it still hangs in her closet after
all these years is my little victory.
It’s completely understandable that you want something to
remind of the good time you had on your trip, but what do you need? Or what can
you actually use once you get home? Even, ‘what do I want to display?’ is a
fair question. That’s the tricky part of buying memorabilia.
The way we overcame packing an extra bag ‘just in case’ was
to get more practical: shot glasses. They’re cheap, small, and shot glasses
actually get used in our house.
My most recent purchase was from Disney World. That Disney
World even has shot glasses seems a tad unnatural? Yes, it is the ‘happiest
place on earth’ but not because people are standing around shootin’ tequila.
Still, once in a while, I grab that Magic Kingdom
After all.
I also have a green M&M shot glass. While most shooters
are 1.5 ounces, Miss Green is 3 ounces, making her a popular lady ‘round here.
“Tonight, I’m dancin’ with the big girl!”
Through the years, though, acquiring shot glasses has become
a little pointless. Not that it doesn’t still occasionally happen, but we’ve
got a hundred of them and only a few friends that will use them with us.
I recently found a box filled with shot glasses I had
forgotten we had. My wife had boxed them up and put them away. I wanted to fuss
at her for putting my favorite pewter shooter from Germany in the basement, but
honestly, I hadn’t missed it, so why start a fight?
About the only other memorabilia we buy anymore is a
refrigerator magnet. I’m big on those. “Hey, y’all, I went to Ireland . Look!
Brought back a fridge magnet!”
We were fortunate enough to be able to visit Cuba a few
years ago, before the current thawing of relations were taking place. What do I
have to show for it? It’s on the fridge.
(It’s entirely possible that a person could have brought
back cigars and rum, but since that’s technically illegal, let’s say that did
not happen.)
But you need something, right? How else will you remember
your trip? That’s why tourist stores are filled will all that crap. It sells.
In the end, though, you’re just collecting stuff. And don’t
we already have enough stuff? We do.
Because of that, these days, about all we possess at the end of a journey are a
few photos.
Our most recent trip was to Italy . It was a most memorable
vacation, but we left the country empty-handed. No shot glass, no fridge magnet.
Nothing.
I did buy a new pair of tennis shoes there, but since I left
behind the pair I had completely blown out, I’m calling that even. Besides, I
think they also sell New Balance shoes in the states. A good shoe but not
exactly fine Italian leather.
On second thought, though, maybe I did souvenir-shop in Italy . We
visited a small village winery and at $8 a bottle, I declared it the best value
in all of Italy !
I must have some! Ship me a case of this stuff, and do it now!
Cost to ship one case of cheap Italian wine: $110, more than
doubling the price. So much for the ‘value’ argument. (Note to self: two-hour
wine tastings are hard on your pocketbook.)
Besides, aren’t souvenirs something you keep? Wine is hardly
a ‘lasting’ memory.
Not around here, anyway.