As you know, I’m not a big one for holding onto ’stuff’ for its own sake, but every once in a while there’s something I just need to hang onto, like those two stage blades I’ve been carrying around with me for years, souvenirs of having learned how to fight with sword and rapier. Okay, I admit, I’ve done some odd things over the years. Haven’t you? I keep the two blades around to remind me that I really, honestly did that. So yeah, I have one or two things that are reminders. Like that jar of brussels sprouts over there. There’s a story attached, remind me to tell you about it. But sometimes a thing will stay with me not so much as a reminder but as a possibility. A case in point–this guitar. The wood is some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen on an instrument. It was made by a fellow I know, lovely work, carved top and back, but the muse left him during the making of it, so it suffers a little bit. I knew it was in somebody’s hands, kind of kept track of it over the years without making a big deal about it. Then I heard that it was being sold to some kid for about the cost of a pile of kindling. I’m afraid I couldn’t let it go. So, I forked over a bunch of money. One day I’m going to put it in the hands of a luthier who doesn’t mind taking on a few odd projects. So it remains a possibility. In the meantime I get to enjoy the view.