Some of you may know that after 9/11 I quit my job as a Creative Director in advertising and did something crazy. Basically, I was living in Texas making more money than I needed, quit, and headed north to Chicago to spend time with my sister and my new nephew. A few months after that, I headed back home to New Hampshire for Christmas and after the New Year I bought an antique store up in Maine. I had no experience doing such, but it changed my life. I also learned the old American art of bartering since I had no money! (Settling in a small rural town that gets tons of snow and relying on an antique store that is only open during the summer for most of your income will do that to you)! I sold that store about 5 years ago but still enjoy hunting vintage and antique items to sell online. Anyways, I’m always researching new finds and came across a coin (online - I don't own this coin) of Hadrian who was a Roman Emperor from 117 to 138 AD. He’s known as one of the ‘good’ emperors. During his reign, he traveled extensively. To commemorate his travels around the empire, coins were made personifying the places he visited. The coin pictured is of Hadrian’s second tour of Africa. I will not bore you with Roman history so lets get to the good part (And why this coin is appearing on my blog to wish people Happy Thanksgiving.) The back of the coin shows Africa (personified) reclining, holding a scorpion with a
cornucopia basket at her feet. (hint... hint... cornucopia and Thanksgiving) Coming across this coin reiterates how
ancient the
craft of a basket maker is! And the basket must have had a huge
significance to the Roman people almost 2,000 years ago to be on Hadrian’s coin. And the
art of basketry still holds its significance today for so many people including myself since this is Eric’s livlihood. I think that is so cool! But I have one question. Why is she holding a scorpion?
Happy Thanksgiving to all the basket makers out there!
(And the ones who love them.)
When my wife came to me about starting a blog, I initially said "What is a blog?" Then I said "What! Are you crazy?" Then continued, "Really. What are you going to write about? We are not that interesting and you are going to have to write something almost everyday."
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have learned about my wife, when she is on target for something she doesn’t lose sight. Step aside, she is coming through. This is why I love her so much.