Strike a Flame

January 21st, 2014 Comments Off on Strike a Flame

It is possible that I am sitting here in total sugar shock because I finished off the bag of Oreos that Lilith brought over last night for movie night. Now, I’m not saying this is what has happened. I am merely saying it is possible.

Of course the daze could also be the numbness that comes from a run on these “feels like 2 degrees” mornings. I hadn’t planned on running, but given that a run in tomorrow’s snow storm may be difficult, I figured I should do it while I could. I decided to end my run at Trader Joe’s so I could buy milk (everyone knows you need milk in a storm, right? It’s one of those strange mysteries of the world. I was going to get the bread, too, but realized if we really do have a storm, baking bread is a good activity with snowbound kids). Really, it’s the walk home from Trader Joe’s that numbs the fingers and freezes the brain. Anyhoos, I’m home, we have milk but no Oreos, and if the power goes out, we are well set on matches.

What’s that you say? I have learned recently that some of my friends are unaware of my match, um, let’s say “collection.” Adam prefers to call it a “problem.” (How is that possible that anyone who knows me doesn’t know about this? I have definitely blogged on this before and surely you’ve seen me grabbing a matchbook or two [yes, I know it’s never been just two, but work with me here].) I’ve always liked matches. Who hasn’t? Fire is fun. What’s better to do on a lazy day than play with matches, right? And in the old days, this was no problem. You’d go out to eat. At the end of the meal, you’d grab a book of matches. I got in the habit of picking up two books: one that I put in a tin for a collection and one that I would be able to use. In Seattle, I had a fireplace, and I needed matches to start my fires (or my Duraflame logs, depending on how lazy I was). Nowadays I light Shabbat candles every Friday. I need matches for that. In my New York days I needed matches for… well, can’t quite recall. But I needed matches. Lots of them.
collection

Let me say upfront, I am all for the no-smoking trend. Smoking is a disgusting habit that smells bed and poisons the world. What I am not happy about is the way “no smoking” has translated to “no matchbooks.” Most folks probably haven’t noticed, but matchbooks are slowly disappearing from the world. Take a look next time you go out. Where are the matchbooks? One of Miami Beach’s many charms is that it caters to tourists, many of whom come from countries where smoking is still the norm. Miami Beach often has matchbooks. Every now and then, here in Boston, you will still find a restaurant with matchbooks.

And here’s where the “problem” may be found (not that I am saying there is a problem–just where one might interpret the problem to be): the lack of matchbooks may be causing a hoarding mentality on my part. Because now instead of grabbing two matchbooks, I feel compelled to grab twelve. Some of my friends–thank you, Teener Tuna–understand my matchbook anxiety and they abet me in my matchbook pilfering. Others–I’m looking at you, husband!–find it to be some sort of weird sickness and refuse to help me.

On Saturday, husband and I went out to dinner with friends. The restaurant was quite good and they happened to have matchbooks (which did not influence how I felt about the food–it was mere bonus). So I grabbed a handful on the way in. And on the way to the bathroom. And on the way out. Husband was horrified. “You know, you’re going to get caught and there’s going to be a big article that reads, ‘Wife of travel company executive caught stealing matchbooks.'” No use telling him that they are giving the matchbooks away, and you cannot steal a free item.
IMG_2914
(By the way, wouldn’t you say this matchbook haul was worth it to them? Because I just gave them loads of free advertising on my blog!)

The man may scoff, but looking through my collection brings back a lot of memories of former haunts.
matchesTrips: Vegas; Sparks, Nevada; New Orleans; San Francisco; Memphis. Events: our wedding rehearsal dinner; my sister’s college graduation; dinners with my grandparents; my bachelorette party. Friends: Benny’s Burritos with Ken; Kettle of Fish with Jax; Etta’s Seafood with Barb and Steve. That tin is almost as good as any journal.

So next time we go out and you see me grab a handful of matches. Don’t just stand there, mouth agape: Grab a handful and help me out! Bring back the matchbooks! Long live the matchbooks!

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  • Who I Am

    I read, I write, I occasionally look to make sure my kids aren't playing with matches.

    My novel, MODERN GIRLS will be coming out from NAL in the spring of 2016.

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