the punch bowl.

So, lately I have been pondering the punch bowl, which sits in our closet with the boxes and bins that are not used. That is where the punch bowl sits... and there are a few other items in there, my fondue pots keep the punch bowl company, as does the laundry detergent- which at this point is the only item in that closet that we have used.

A punch bowl is a pretty random item, when you start to think about it. I have been tempted to find it a new home many times, and today, that is what I have been pondering. Why do I keep this punch bowl that I have only used once? Do I know anyone that would want a punch bowl? Which led me to thinking... anyone I give this punch bowl to, would most likely use it about the same amount as me. A punch bowl, it seems unnecessary. The punch bowl is the type of item that if you get rid of, you know you will never find one again if you need to use one. A punch bowl is an elusive type of household object, not commonly called for in the everyday life. So how did I come to have a punch bowl in the first place?

A few years ago, I went "thrifting" with some of my friends. This happened to take place a few days before the Christmas party that me and my roommates were throwing in our little PBU apartment. So, as I wandered the aisles of the thrift store in search of some treasures (that's the thrill of thrift stores, its like a treasure hunt every time) I was drawn, as usual, to the household objects. As I perused the shelves of plates, glasses, bowls, vases, and the odd mugs, I found it. The punch bowl was sitting on the bottom shelf of the aisle, with eight matching cups and a ladle. It was cheap, in the forgotten corduroy bear way. It was cheap, and we were having a party in a few days, and at the party, we were having homemade punch (no alcohol in case you were wondering.) So, of course I bought it and brought it home, excited to show my roommates my prize. The punch bowl completed our party, what is a Christmas party, after all, without a punch bowl that draws the guests to think of the Christmas parties they attended when they were children with their parents? The punch bowl took center stage that night, its moment of glory. There was one casualty that night, in the massive dish washing task that ensued, one of the cups was broken.

So I am now the owner of one punch bowl, seven cups, and a ladle. I have used them once. I know  that I will not get rid of the punch bowl, not only am I afraid that if I do, there will come a day that I want a punch bowl and cannot find that elusive object, it is also an intriguing object. So I will keep it, and wonder what kind of life it had before me, maybe the owner obtained it, and only used it once before deciding that it took up too much space to keep something that you might use again.