Actually, the item that comes quickly to mind is a small gold pendant that Bob gave me several years ago. It's an antique crescent man-in-the-moon that I wear on a chain around my neck.
Years ago I developed an alter-ego named Bo Mooney. When I was on the road I'd often spend time on long trips drawing a cartoon strip starring Bo Mooney and Spud Tater. Bo Mooney stuck to me and our family business is Crescent, Inc. So the crescent moon has been my personal logo for years. Bob found this little gold crescent moon in an antique store somewhere out on tour and it's pretty much been hanging around my neck ever since.
I've lost it and found it twice. The first time, I had taken it off for some reason and accidentally left it in a hotel room. Luckily I realized it in time to call the hotel and have them send it to me.
The other time was really bizarre. I realized one day that it wasn't around my neck and I looked everywhere for it. Couldn't find it and I went for several months without it, assuming that the chain must have broken and it had fallen off somewhere...but where? I finally gave up on it and relegated it to the category of cool things I used to own.
In 2004, Meri and I took a month-long vacation to New Zealand and Australia, and when our friends dropped us off at the Denver airport we were getting our luggage organized. I pulled up the handle on one of the suitcases and heard a jingle on the sidewalk. I looked down and there was my chain and moon pendant. It had somehow fallen into the recess for the handle and had been there since the last time I'd used that suitcase. I have no idea why I didn't discover it as we where packing the suitcase. One of those weird mysteries in life that I'll never have an answer for.
Going down the list, I'd have to put my autographed Jack Davis Kingston Trio caricature near the top of treasured mementos. One of these days I may catalog some of this stuff. I'm sure there are items that I could (and should) part with for the right price.
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