I have a towel that came with me to college nearly 30 years ago. It's nothing special, but it's very serviceable and the color always went with my decor, so I kept it through moves and life changes.
The blue towel is still serviceable, but frayed at the edges. I keep it folded in thirds so you can't see the frayed threads as I simply can't bear to part with it. It still works and I like its slightly rough texture.
Man of the House and I are fairly prosperous and sometimes we laugh at how, despite the fact that we could easily go out and buy new towels, we still keep the old ones. But we have developed a relationship with some of the things in our lives and they feel like old friends.
My dear departed Uncle Frank gave me a toaster oven nearly 20 years ago. It still works, but it is obviously slowing down and the day is coming when I will have to get rid of it. But it will be the end of an era when it goes.
In the era of overabundance, I believe it is important to consume mindfully. And part of that mindful consumption is to have a tie to the objects in our lives, to treat them with a certain respect and not use them carelessly. It seems a little odd to say I have a relationship with my toaster oven and towel (along with other items), but they improve my life and I believe are deserving of a certain regard despite their inanimate status.
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