“If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.” ~ W. C. Fields
Some precious objects we own and adore, break. Family heirlooms can be destroyed by a hurricane, pipes can burst (been there, done that) and horrid fire damage can break you into a million pieces just thinking about beloved possessions lost.
Ever since I was crawling around on the floor as a little one, I remember Dad having this bull on his dresser. Dad was a Taurus, and I believe Mom bought it for him as a birthday gift after I was born. (Mr. Bull’s close up below.)
At night, the bull had the task of keeping Dad’s wallet tucked in its back, and Dad’s watch perched around its horns. He always did a fine job, that little bull, and I was always fascinated with it for some reason.
(ITALIAN LESSON: Bull = Toro)
Fast forward a few decades when Mom & Dad were having some financial issues (caused by a certain family member, a.k.a. “user” who shall remain nameless), and had to put many of their belongings in storage between moving to a new house. Ok, so far, it sounds like something many may have had to struggle with. Only it gets bumped up a notch, since this “user” never paid the storage fees as he was supposed to, and my parents had their heads in the sand, and the place ended up being bulldozed to make way for another dreaded mini-mall.
Dad’s bull, along with thick photo albums, keepsakes, tons of loose family photos, my Grandmother’s china from Sicily, a few fine antiques, and my father’s “famous” Knights-of-Columbus gear — all swept away in an afternoon, or most likely sold to some vultures at auction. I know Mom had a hard time telling me about this, because she knows I’m a very sentimental person.
Ok, I better stop here, because it’s a very sore spot for me, and you know what I am capable of (referencing Shaken Laptop Syndrome.) I can’t even bring myself to ever watch Storage Wars, because I find myself getting sad, angry and overwhelmed.
You may wonder how I have this bull photographed. Well, I hunted one down and found him — the exact one, GRAZIE EBay! I’ll just keep pretending it is Dad’s. ♥
Please tell me about something cherished you may have lost, or rediscovered — I’d love to hear about it!
The W.C. Fields quote is one of my all time favorites. This story, not so much. The user should be bulldozed!!!
I’m glad you found one and who knows…it could very well be your dad’s.
xob
Barbara recently posted..The Worst Dinner Date Ever…a bit of fiction.
Thanks Barb! Agreed about the bulldozee! And, yes, I’ll keep thinking that it was his … makes me feel much better.
"Me" recently posted..My Beloved Bull & Total Bull$%#!
Maybe it IS your dad’s. You never know with Ebay.
One nice thing about a blog (and your blog in particular, Lee) is being able to take such memories as these out of storage, give them life and a new audience and in that way they travel far and live on.
Style Maniac recently posted..Style Maniac’s (4th!) Blog Birthday
What a sweet comment,@ Style Maniac. I have to say your words made me really stop and think about it that way, and what a nice feeling it is! xoxo
"Me" recently posted..My Beloved Bull & Total Bull$%#!
What a story. I have 5 sisters and I could tell some similarly disconcerting tales. So I thoroughly understand the sore spot that you reference. I recently rediscovered some very old photographs – quite a few I’d never seen before. My sister, who has had them for years unbeknownst to me, gave them to me for my blog (started in 2012). I am so happy to have them. I’ve only posted a couple of them, but I will sit down and pull one after another out of the box and just be amazed at the memories they conjure. That’s what your post made me think of.
Steph recently posted..Don’t Ever Get Old, Honey..
@ Steph:
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your comment — it is tough when one family member is such a ^%&%$#@@(!! Isn’t it?
I am stopping by your blog right now, and I’ll also leave a comment – looking forward to see what it’s all about.
So happy you rediscovered those old photos – they are truly priceless!
"Me" recently posted..My Beloved Bull & Total Bull$%#!
Frustrating story. I remember that bull on your dad”s dresser and always admired it.
@ Pat:
It makes me so happy you remember Dad’s bull