Tire tube with slight tear.
I’ve held on to this all summer, hoping to repair the slight tear. Â In the meantime, I’ve purchased a new tube and am happily riding my bicycle (not currently, as that would be dangerous).
I’ve also heard that patches aren’t 100% reliable, so that’s probably contributed to my hesitation to run out and buy one. Â I thought about ordering patches online to save money and time, but never did.
So there you have it. Â Bicycle tire tube out as thing 101.
My old leather wallet (empty).
Back when I actually carried a wallet in my pocket (I kind-of have a wallet now, but I hate having anything in my pockets, so I don’t keep it there), I used this one. Â I had a $100 bill folded and hidden in the inside fold- for emergencies. Â I thought that was cool. Â And it came in handy on more than one occasion.
When emptying this tonight I found an old driver’s license, 2 pictures from a London photo booth in 1998, an old Boston University ID card, a NYS DMV Record of Convictions stub (date of violation 7-8-92, offense: 1172A) and an Ollie Dollars Bonus Plan card. Â Each of those things holds a special memory for me, and maybe they will turn up another night, but tonight it’s just the wallet that I’m getting rid of. Â Onward we go….
Okay, I’ve made it to 100. Â Only 265 more things to go. Â Wow.
Wooden pipe from Mexico.
I picked this up many years ago while on vacation with Deana, somewhere in the Yucatan. Â I remember the marketplace and the haggling we did for everything we bought. Â Somewhere on the drive to the market we passed through some tiny town, and as we slowed down for a series of speed bumps, a flock of young children swarmed the car chirping “Uno peso for me!? Uno Peso for me!?”, hands outstretched into our open windows. Â I felt so uncomfortable.
I have so many beautiful memories from that vacation. Â And the pipe has also provided nice memories on many occasions. Â But it’s time to day goodbye and move on.
Adios amigo.
2001 Sundance Film Festival festival guide.
At this point I can’t remember if 2001 was my first or second year as a SFF volunteer. Â I remember having such an amazing time in Park City… waking up to snow covered mountains, sharing a house with some of my best friends, immersing myself in nothing but the excitement of new cinema (and watching as many films as I could each day). Â Ahh, the bubble of Sundance where celebrities and ordinary citizens mingle awash a backdrop of snow, booze and media. Â I had never been more excited about filmmaking and technology, storytelling and fantasy.
A couple of months ago I came across this festival guide and was instantly flooded with emotion and nostalgia. Â I had even saved the ticket stubs from the movies I watched that festival (which I threw away before starting this project). Â I haven’t been to Sundance in about a decade. Â At one point I vowed that the only way I would return was to show a film.
I’m going to hold on to that dream, and let go of the festival guide.
John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany.
This book is nothing short of extraordinary. Â I loved every minute of reading it. The world Irving paints is so visceral and moving and hilarious. Â Once you become a teenager, you should be required to read this once every five years until you have children, and then once every 10.
I didn’t read this until I was in my late 20’s (or early 30’s, I can’t recall). Â I was gifted Owen Meany, along with a few other books from my friend Holle Singer, somewhere around 2005. Â I think the books were holiday presents (she’s a fantastic gift-giver).
Holle is one of the most creative and talented people I’ve ever met, and assisting her was an invaluable step to my career as an editor and artist. Â The hours and hours spent watching her work, and deconstructing her timelines to see how she created what she edited, was maddeningly educational. Â Unfortunately, It’s been years since we’ve seen each other. Â Maybe soon…
So like I mentioned in the last entry, as I close in on 100 things I’m pulling out some tough things to let go of. Â This is absolutely one of them.
I found a piece of paper with a quote of Irving’s that I had written while reading the book. Â It was inserted between pages 74-75: Â “If you care about something, you have to protect it – if you’re lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”
Selah.