[September 29th, 2015]

Do you ever walk into a store and plant your eyes on something that you feel has always been yours? As if you already had a history—or occupied a part of each other's lives? A sort of soulmate connection with an object is what I'm getting at; a coup de foudre with something inanimate. Before you think we're crazy, let's talk a little bit more about this Cat Mask...

About six months ago, when Aviv and I walked into Love, Adorned—our neighborhood standby for precious gifts on Elizabeth St between Houston and Prince—this is exactly what happened. I looked at this mask sitting next to its brother on the back table, and I knew that Aviv would fall in love with it immediately as soon as he made first sight.

Sure enough, he turned his head towards the back table, looked at the object and felt like he had landed in his very own scene of The Mask. There was a connection then and there—as if it had been waiting for him to enter the store all along, and whisk it away to be placed on a pedestal in a home nearby. And that's exactly what Aviv did. Here they are, two peas in a pod.

I won't lie—there is something about masks in general that always spooked me out a bit, personally. It probably finds its roots in studying the symbolism behind different cultural mask ceremonies: this overarching idea of trickery or deception. I never gravitated towards them, nor did I ever believe I would welcome one home. That said, if I had to keep one close by, it would be this one—and only this guy wearing it, for sure. :)

So this is Thing #2, friends. A playful cheetah-looking mask, which we will continue to bring with us because the moment he was about to be sold, Aviv felt a heart string bust. It was clear in that moment that the mask was meant to accompany us—and that this animate:inanimate friendship must go on for just a little while longer...

Stay tuned for the story of the last thing, Thing #3 tomorrow!

Good Tuesday to you all!

-P&A