M is for Material

Estimated time to read: 2 minutes

I didn't think I cared for many things material. There's a small wooden bird figurine I bought on a trip to pondicherry that I've grown extremely fond of. When its tail broke off, I remember feeling very sad. And I remember how happy I felt when I realized I could superglue it back. That's probably one of the countable material items I care for in my life as of today.

Among the tiny list of things I care about, I did not think my kindle was among them. Nor did I think a Keychain I had as a primary would be on that list. But the old saying about knowing how much you care about things only when they're no longer with you is true. I lost both of these items earlier this week and when constant efforts looking for them in every corner I could think of proved futile, my nonchalance of "yeah, they'll turn up eventually" broke. And I've found myself thinking about them every now and then all evening. I did not know I'd miss them so much. But I do. The Keychain was a gift from a friend who'd brought it for me from China. It's not a terribly rare Keychain, just Spiderman themed. But he'd thought about me when he saw it, enough to ping and ask if I'd like it if he bought it for me. And that act of his meant a lot to me. The Kindle was also brought for me by another dear friend from Germany and I'd taken it from him on the day of his wedding, when I'd attended it. I'm leaving out a lot of details but I guess those details are the reason I find myself regretting not being careful about these two specific items.

I don't know if I'll get them back. If I'll remember suddenly with a jolt where they might be. I probably won't. This post is acceptance of that.

But it's good to know I care. About things people give me or make for me.

It's a nice feeling.