Becoming attached to material things that have long been with us is just but normal. For one thing, the sentimental value adds an appreciable weight to its actual value. Understandably, giving away something we have come to love and treasure carries with it a certain degree of joyous pain, joyous on the thought of having made the life of another person happier.

Losing a thing is definitely another story. It's not a joyous pain but one of sorrow or even anger. However, circumstances matter. The pain may be completely absent and, surprisingly, in its stead...thankfulness and relief. This is exactly what I felt in the morning of October 15 - seeing the two jars shattered to pieces but realizing our house was unharmed by the  earthquake.

two precious big jars
helpless against the tremor
broken and shattered


oo0oo


early tuesday morn
two jars yielding to the quake
a loss...and relief