peter’s boots
by Kay
Saturday morning, I stepped outside to pick up our New York Times. The wicker furniture was gone. I was surprised Tom would put away the wicker so early. The kids come for a visit next week and if the weather holds, breakfast on the porch would be a summer benediction.
But Tom hadn’t stored the furniture. It was stolen. Both wicker chairs, the table, and the glass I had cut to fit the table. They climbed up on the porch rail and took the two Boston ferns from their hooks. They took my yellow mum that was just blossoming. They even took its plant stand.
The wicker chairs were a gift when I was promoted to the Provost’s office. I bought the table to go with them. They’d graced our porch for years and I cried with defeat.
Later on, I thought to check the side porch. Everything was in place. My old clogs wait for our next gardening day. Ivy still hangs from the eve. Hens and chicks still adorn Peter’s old boots.
The mum can be easily replaced. So can the ferns. Eventually, we’ll replace the wicker. Peter’s boots, though, would come around only once.
left on walnut 
Oh, man! I hate those moments that steal your faith even more than your stuff. Our outbuilding/shed was broken into last year – well, walked into…it wasn’t locked. We’re still discovering tools that were stolen – in those moments when you find yourself saying, “Where’s my _______” and then we say, “Oh. I bet…” It so stinks. But at least they weren’t items of sentiment, like yours were. That stinks even more. Unless you count the toolbox I gave my husband when we were first married…I suppose there was some sentiment there!
OH, and I’m so glad the boots were safe! Love the picture!
You nailed straight: this is a loss in faith. As we sat outside this evening, I realize that I was looking at people with suspicion. That’s not who I want to be. Thank you for posting on my blog, friend.
I’m so sorry. What a sad feeling, when you lose something you love to someone who doesn’t even care.
I even found myself driving through our neighborhood looking for who had a yellow mum on their front stoop. I’m embarrassed by that, but it’s true.
What a lousy way to start the day. But how smart you are to distinguish the replaceable from the irreplaceable.
Ah, yes. I’m glad I didn’t post too early. I was sort of angry. In the end, it’s just stuff.
I’m sorry to read about the theft of the wicker furniture and plants! It seems so pointless to do something like that. I can totally understand you being angry – I know I would have been had happened to me. It’s just stuff but with a lot of meaningful memories attached. At least you still have those – no one can steal that away from you.
I think of wicker people as gentle souls. Not really the kind who would get in their pickup and cruise the streets at night looking for furniture. I hope they water the mum.
Things come and go, but good writing lasts forever. Sometimes, difficulties produce the best from our pens. Nice job telling the story. Loved the “summer benediction.” I’ll use it, but I’ll make sure to give you a friend credit!
Your comment gave me a smile. Thank you. I think of my writing as rather plain, certainly simple, perhaps like my life.
Oh, I am so sorry about the theft of your furniture, etc. I hope you will be able to replace it soon and not worry about having it stolen again. I love your blog and am adding your site to my blog roll. I hope that is okay. I don’t want to miss even one post.
I’m humbled to have my blog read at all. Thank you for including my site to your blog roll. I’ll add yours too. What a good idea.
I am always puzzled by theft and usually angry, too. Not that I’ve ever had something huge stolen, but the little things that accumulate over one’s life. A stupid pink re-usable shopping bag with bunnies on it and a silver bracelet my husband got me in Thailand are the latest. More likely, I left them somewhere carelessly, so is that stealing? I did have a bike stolen from a front porch in a college town once.
In any case, it can feel really bad. At least you’ll have the recall in your mind’s eye and who knows? maybe something will still show up. I hope someone loves them as much as you did and I guess that’s the only Zen–someone needed them or they never belonged to you in the first place so they’ll get passed around….Hang in there! twinkly
I’m surprised at how the anger has lingered. Not much of what I’ve done for the past few days has been with joy. They have stolen my joy. Such a shame. Even when I know that these were not major losses in life, I’m still hurt and angry. Thank you for commenting on my blog. The kind words do much to help, do they not?
Life stinks sometimes doesn’t it ?
Now, when you replace your bits and pieces for the porch you have to decide if you have enough trust left in the human race to just place it on the porch or if you have to fix them down.
I hope you can just place them and enjoy them enough to relax and smile next summer, it would be a real shame if they’ve stolen your trust too.
Oh, Hallysann, you are so right. We’ve chained new chairs on the porch and I’m just sick about it. Even if the old wicker is gone, I wish I could have my easy faith back. In time, I suppose, like most other things.
This makes me so sad/mad! When you’re a victim of theft, not only are your material items gone, but your sense of security is shaken.
Really well written.
Thank you. Yes, we’ve talked a bit about our security in this old neighborhood. I just don’t want to look behind me and be afraid. That’ll pass in time, I suppose.
Here’s hoping the theft was a practical joke by a friend.
Yeah, probably not, but a little hope never hurts, right?
You know, for a bit I thought maybe it was a fraternity prank and it would all show back up. No such luck. Thank you for stopping by my blog. Sympathetic friends make it better!