February 08, 2005

detail of the inlay on the table

As you can see from this photo... the detail of the workmanship is striking. This is Indonesian rosewood, Mother of Pearl Inlay work done in Singapore. Open carvings of Birds in Cherry blossomed trees and Dragons and Phoenix, symbolic of Man and Woman living in harmony are carved as a border around the bottom edge of the table and the buffet cabinet. The Bird of Paradise in the tree of life is the theme of the table top inlay. The curio is plain Rosewood but goes well with it...

We are selling the suite for 3500.00 a bargan since it cost us 7000.00 and retailed for twice that. I am selling it for fear that it is too delicate to survive another trans pacific crossing and the louts that pack moving containers here are not nearly as careful as the guys that did our load comming over. Plus much of our stuff was still in factory packaging and that protected it... We bought it and much of the other furniture (including the gold leaf desk, and table at the store) from a Pakistani Importer in Downey that was run out of business after 9-11. Made a pariah for his Islamic faith, he sold us the furniture to make his rent for the months of September and October of 2001. Woody and I would go to see him often before we moved... I took his wife shopping in those early days so she would not be insulted and abused by people. They had been persecuted for their tribal origins in their homeland, now this. They sold their shop inventory for a song and fled to family in Sacramento....

I understand now more than ever how they must have felt. The loss of dreams and hopes...Woody and "Joe" would have long discussions over the Koran and the Old Testament and the Place of "Issa", Jesus, in the eternal scheme of things was nearly always the focal point...

I pray for them every time I lift the protective cover and touch the inlaid birds and flowers...

I was never able to afford to pay for the protective glass that I wanted to cover the table so I could leave it uncovered to the world. Like so many things I kept this for "good"...there never was a "good". I have only had two guests at my table in the 3 1/2 years I have lived here. I had visions of church ladies functions in this big living area, and have no friends or associations. Three sets of china, seating for twelve and its just Woody and I and the cats.

I have never been able to enjoy it. How sad really...

Woody and I have discussed this many times and we have made a pact between us. Nothing for show, ostentation or "good". Not clothes not funiture not anything... We havent discussed the bedroom furniture but it is as grand as the dining room. A bed so romantically lovely that it belongs in a fine bed and breakfast, and may end up there. People are looking at it too and thinking about it. I predict that it will stay here as well. I bought all of this thinking that this might be the last time I do such a thing. This writer, who was raised on Social Security, then has lived in small homes and sparingly went crazy when handed more money than she ever had in all of her life... Wiser now, I know that I shouldnt think so far ahead. I have no one to leave anything to and dont need to show off. Buy what you love and what you can live with is my mantra and Woody's too.

We are looking at homes in the same mindset. So many of them are way too big for us but we dont want to live in a trailer or a condo...yet...but we can see that downsizing as a good thing one day. Maybe we need to do it now. Pray for us to make a wise decision about where we live and what we choose. I dont know about you but the whole Social Security debate has brought the retirement thing back as a focal point for us. We want to pay cash for our next home and keep it paid off. Credit Score be damned (did you know that not having a mortgage reduces your credit score... go figure...) No charge cards and no loans...We...I need to start to save again and this will mean a full time paying job, which I have not held since early 1996...I have nothing but the house and Woody has a small amount set aside well invested. My saving grace is that I will be able to draw his SS one day. If I had to draw mine I would be a street person it is so dismally low...

We will always have to work, there is no way around it. But I want to enjoy life too and bask in the pure white light of a life well lived. I accept the risks but will savor the rewards as well. I dont know how God will do this, will work all of this out but I trust Him to do it. He hasnt failed me yet.