When I was...maybe 17 or 18?...I got a shadow box and started collecting miniatures.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjCzN9M-0-mTjbIkq8mjbTz39wIuJ9v3SSK6zT_zlecSH5nG0Y6KsGJl3bwLHQuBGoi7uz06soKHxrbacOPOxpyRfQR6Tg11tReYxum-syBwXCgw6YOwiMWA10gX5zVIBO4_xzbtzoUw/s400/shadow.jpg) |
It pretty much looked more or less exactly like this. It is, as they say, a very small fucking world. |
A couple of weeks ago, as part of my pre-divorce downsizing, I threw away my beloved shadow box and most of the miniatures it held. Because I had bought many of those tiny treasures with my spouse, and no matter how many wonderful memories they held, they stood like sentinels between me and the clean break I feel I must make in order to get on with my life.
Reason #681 why divorce sucks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36gy25kGdAno1dQfZ-okeoYB2pFimjl3cr09s3VIfiHI4NiHzSkkkRRDSUpwOZ9l6j7pmUZl4k2o8YXvnD0JXXPaeRQc2RRqZ71fK1BsgibkWF3T8oj4GfwSfLgB7oCoXcdEXvfg1neY/s320/movie_44759.jpg) |
Just in case you thought it was all top hats and new dance sensations. |
Still, I had started shadow boxing before I met him, and some of the little tchotchkes represented the person I was before I was part of a dating/engaged/married couple. I rescued those few (a frog wearing a gold crown, a badger representing my home state of Wisconsin, a couple of others) and packed them away. My spouse took a couple that he felt particularly attached to...to which he felt particularly attached...whatever. The rest, along with the shadow box itself, ended up in the trash.
But I was unable to part with one figurine we bought together waaaaay back in the day.
This is Eldon, the Cookie Eating Lizard.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvcIXqCUczHlbjW_HBhmo2YM22XmcuI3JEh68EqCM_XTfl3bsBBaD3jvrb0gB9KbUnDTXk9TJLhc5aKkmiPj1ta1iulE66vyBE0jhWimWjy_mCdxMvpgNx658qH4TT7qTdzYhRSxIJZM/s320/lizard2.jpg) |
He is a lizard. Eating a cookie. As advertised. |
I don't remember exactly where or when we bought him. Just that he charmed the socks off both of us.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1Hbe6YEIYDwr6BOsJMIoUxT-xrphXLeKkrEZMFcHQ_Wnzin4Zt9_R5WDM5HXpM9sXnuIxysolaO2hTSNAH7DaMTimVWMVWx4Oa_V1vkEC-yuUnJq5AsHfUz1VM_BLgnazC8RUhCZf9M/s320/lizard1.jpg) |
He's wearing a cowboy hat. And eating a cookie. And he's blue. |
I threw away a lot of amazing little miniature sculptures. But I couldn't part with Eldon the Cookie Eating Lizard.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwNp_XpMofLkdo-xe8rPIhoTBrfEp-OEUUVCUZAv2wlM1p_zU8A7ciCw2ZfO1r6R6Uq-swz-yUBbJRCWJNfpz7vKcgEXtQSx6StSq-kv2ilYOGXOH20CQ91l7ig8g0BzpwrUxyC_z1eQ/s320/lizard3.jpg) |
Nom nom nom. |
Eldon will come to my new apartment. He'll occupy a place of honor somewhere. Because I love him.
Maybe I'll start taking him to places I go and photographing him. Like Flat Stanley. Only Non-Flat Blue Lizard with a Cookie.
Now available for appearances.
If cookies are provided.
There was a place here in Nashville called Nomzilla Sushi. It's currently closed, but I swear I will find a way for a cut-out doppelganger of Eldon to appear there.
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