Conversations over breakfast, part one
When I had my first apartment (in Philadelphia), I bought myself a set of hand-painted Italian salad plates in the Blue Carnation pattern. They must have been inexpensive, because I didn't have any money, and I use them for everything. Now I'm down to three, and they are quite chipped, as faithful readers know.
Over breakfast this morning, I was telling my husband about how unhappy this made me. I haven't been able to find any more of them in stores around here, although it's a very famous and popular pattern. (Replacements, Inc., which everyone who likes nice china should know about, doesn't have any at the moment either.)
When I looked on the 'net, I came up with a store in San Francisco that's selling them for $60 apiece, which is a little expensive for something I eat toast off of and then stick in the dishwasher.
My husband said something that surprised me. ...
He said buy them. And then he went on to explain (I'm paraphrasing here so any mistake is mine, not his) that it was a dharma of Buddhism that you shouldn't surround yourself with chipped, ugly things.
I like that.
Not that I'm going to buy $60 salad plates. But maybe I should find some others that are beautiful, unchipped and slightly less expensive.
In the interest of full disclosure, he also said, "There is nothing more exciting in sports than Ed Reed making an interception when he starts directing traffic as to who should block for him."
(Photo courtesy of Replacements, Inc.)
Comments
I know nothing about Buddhism, but it's a Feng Shui principle chipped and broken things bring poor energy into one's life.
Posted by: Eve | September 22, 2008 8:53 AM
Now Elizabeth, you know that surrounding yourself with expensive things is not the way to enlightenment. All things live and die. Celebrate their life by allowing them to die. Find something new. They seem to have a lot of that sort of thing in Spain and it's very affordable. Maybe there are some available on the internet.
Posted by: Om ... G | September 22, 2008 9:03 AM
At our age, whenever I think of a purchase that seems out of line I think of the endurance factor of the "thing".
Massage $75 - enduring effect about 2 hours. Flowers for house $75 - enduring effect 1 week. Football ticket $75 - enduring effect if we win-2 days, loss 1 week. Don't remind me what it cost for 4 scalped tickets to see the Ravens lose almost 2 years ago to the team from Indianapolis. That has been a truly enduring effect!). How long will the effect of that plate last for you at $60? Go for it.
I LOVE this. Thank you. EL
Posted by: mdlrvrmuncher | September 22, 2008 9:37 AM
To complete Om ... G's idea: if Spain has this sort of affordable china: go to Spain and buy some.
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | September 22, 2008 9:49 AM
Hey, chowsearch doesn't seem to know anything about Buddhism either, but that doesn't stop him from using "karma" in an offensive and ignorant manner. Sorry John Lennon, there is no instant karma. The corruption of the term karma to mean some sort of divine instant retribution is really just overlaying the word onto a childish fear-based Christianity popular with four year olds.
Posted by: Owl Meat (SoNotA)Guru | September 22, 2008 10:01 AM
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be. If you get the new, expensive plates, you will be always remembering when you first bought the old ones and how happy you were then (doesn't matter whether or not you were; memory is selective), and compare how cheap they were then with how expensive they are now. Go down to one of the "world markets," get some new, bright, and cheap salad plates. Maybe save on of the less-chipped plates and display it. You will enjoy the new plates more and still have your memories.
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | September 22, 2008 10:45 AM
Excellent, RiE! I have several unmatched 1-of-a-set-dishes accumulated over the years. I pull them out at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and other special events. A gentle way to remember dinners and those at them.
Posted by: Eve | September 22, 2008 11:37 AM
oh yeah, Owl? U are in for some shocks!
Posted by: John Lennon@heaven.com | September 22, 2008 11:56 AM
No dice Dead Lennon. Don't you remember that you imagined there was no heaven? It's easy if you try.
Posted by: I am the Owl Meat - koo koo ka choo | September 22, 2008 12:23 PM
you can find "hand painted" plates of this type all over the Amalfi cost. Why not a trip there instead of the West Coast?
Posted by: Cheese | September 22, 2008 1:17 PM
Elizabeth,you can use and still love your Italian plates until they all break or you get tired of them, whichever comes first. Meanwhile, mosey around places like Ten Thousand Villages or Bed Bath & Beyond to check out (relatively inexpensive) replacements. When you find something that you like as much as your old plates, get them.
Posted by: Dottie | September 22, 2008 1:18 PM
You should smash the plates into small pieces and then make a mosaic of them in cement in your back yard.
Posted by: voodoopork | September 22, 2008 2:22 PM
You could mosey over to the craft blog and find the name of the gal who makes jewelry from pottery shards.
Posted by: Pigtown | September 22, 2008 4:03 PM
Thrift stores. Amazing what one can find in them. Can take some time, though.
Posted by: Lissa | September 22, 2008 4:12 PM