Mug Shots

Hoarding? Archiving? Collecting?
Call it what you will but I have a pretty mean streak of this right down the center of my spine.
The objects may change but the habit remains.
I could blame it on ingrained American consumerism or from the 'beginning of time' greed as in "You have something pretty and shiny..so I want it too!" 

Our local Chinese co-workers and friends love the lure of upscale Western brand names but have avoided the sting of this collecting bug. 

I have MY theory of why not and here it is:


Chinese folks live in much smaller spaces than us expatriates or 'wealthy' ones.  Often they share living areas with two or even three generations of family members. If they are younger and live in a city area, like ours, they share apartments with multiple friends, rent is divided and so is a small living space. University students have 3 or 4 bunk beds in a small room making it necessary to have their clothes hanging from high places.  Conserving space means that having extra "stuff" is very impractical. 

In an effort to orient us into the Chinese culture a former USA expatriate suggested being selective when gifting a Chinese friend or co-worker.  "Gifting is a definite element of the Chinese way. Express gratitude with consumables - food, tobacco, flowers, alcohol, money or a meal," he said. 

 It sure makes perfect sense given the space constraints, less income and the size of the Chinese population.

But having space (or the lack of it) has never stopped my ever-changing need to collect "stuff."  I've self-diagnosed this as sometimes bordering on a  very mild obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Through the years I've sought out certain things to fulfill the need:  

"I gotta HAVE it!"

Now, you could go all "Biblical" on me:

"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and  where thieves do not break in and steal."~ Matthew 6:20 

You'd have every right to quote that and I absolutely get the message.

OR

You could diagnose this obsession as "Psychological."


Do I have a gaping hole in my childhood? 
NOPE.
My brother and I were lavished upon when compared to my Depression-raised parents.

But in the end, who really knows (or cares,) so I proclaim that solving the "Why?" of my collecting obsession is so less interesting than the "What?"

What have I collected?

As a pre-teenager I collected autographed photographs of TV/Movie stars.  All one had to do is send a request to specific studios in California. For the cost of a 5-cent postage stamp and a three-sentence pledge of undying pre-adolescent devotion to that particular star my collecting blossomed.  Receiving a brown envelope with your name on it delivered by Mr. Pottle, our mailman for 20 years, was worth raiding my mother's stamps. Pretty photos arrived of these celebrities:

Annette Funicello

Troy Donahue

Edward Byrnes

Pernell Roberts

Shelly Fabares

Richard Chamberlain

Ann-Margret

Ricky Nelson

Sandra Dee

Paul Peterson

Bobby Darren

Vince Edwards

Tuesday Weld

Paul Anka

Hayley Mills

Fabian

Michael Landon

Connie Stevens  - <this is where "Cricket" came from>

Tony Dow

and the cast of Bonanza & Leave it to Beaver

So now you know where I fall into a time-line and some of you will have to google these stars of yesterday, I'm certain. The celebrity status of Hollywood stars were "brought to you by" 1960's television, radio or what I'll call Bubble Gum movies.  Every winter Sunday afternoon, after church and lunch, a parent would drop us off at a curb on Michigan Avenue.  We'd stand in a line that wrapped around a cement-block building in our penny loafers and anklets with frozen knee caps and chapped cheeks. After purchasing a thirty-five cent ticket at the Calvin or Dearborn theater we'd enter a dark velvety cushioned lobby, buy our 10-cent box of popcorn, a drink with two straws and enter the darkened theater.  Wide-eyed we'd watch a cartoon and 2 full-length movies. Beach-Blanket Bingo, Gidget, Parent Trap, A Summer Place...the stage was set for teenage indoctrination and capturing stars.   Those studio photos were stored in a manila folder marked "Movie Stars" for many years and are sadly gone.

Since then I've had an endless history of collecting things, going in spurts and bingeing and purging through the years. I sometimes felt that I had outgrown the collection or needed the space. You, no doubt have a list.  Mine includes:

• Goebel "Redhead" figurines
• an entire Vest of Tac Pins
• WKNR - Top 40 - Music Guides
• Vintage Table Linens
• Charm Bracelets

Seems to be a theme of nostalgia and reminiscing when I look at that list.  Not surprising having had a charmed & wonderful life.

Before arriving in Nanjing, China to our new home, I decided that I wouldn't bring any part of a collection. 

"I don't need anymore "stuff."  

"The more you have, the more you have to take care of," I repeatedly droned.

But, like any other afflicted soul, you're clean until your next "hit" and the "hit" was in the dragon's scope.

*~* Five buildings south of us on a granite-topped kitchen counter top they glistened. Southern sunlight "ping"ed across their bony white surfaces.  There before me, lining a Nanjing window sill, sat Pete's collection of

* ~*~Starbucks City Mugs~*~*

 Each mug announced a city or country's name emblazoned over an iconic representational image. The colors differed and the interior of each mug matched the exteriors focal color.  Dreamy. *~*

"These are really GREAT!" I swooned as I picked up one with orange accents with the words Hong Kong in a rich Colombian brown. I turned it from side to side, looking at the bottom and it's pleasing citrus-hued interior.

 "Yup, Pete gets one wherever he travels, kind of a "collection," (ding-ding-ding!) remarked the  lovely  Mrs. Pete, as she rolled her eyes. 

"Nice! Would you mind if I did the same, Pete?" 

 "Sure, go ahead, I don't care," he naively replied.

And that's when my fate was sealed, I began a Collection in China and it hasn't stopped.

China mug with dragon and fiery interior

There ARE parameters to this collection in which Pete and I are on the same page: 

1) A member of the household must have BEEN to a Starbucks in the 'land of the mug.' Could have been way back when......but if one of you was there, in a Starbucks, in the city or country written on the mug then it is permissible to purchase and proudly display. No exceptions.

Simple rule and oh so much adrenalin-driven fun. 


Before you judge me, know that the hunt requires honest to goodness research. 

The Spirit of Detroit

• Is the destination city/country represented by a Starbucks mug?
• Is it the 'right' series - (2008)
• How many Starbucks are located in this town?
• Where are the Starbucks located?
• Shall we call ahead and check if there are any on their shelves?
• Will they hold the LAST one till we get there?  zooooooooom

I've shared the fun upon a visit to our Shanghai friends as four of us taxi-ed swiftly through Shanghai. Just like a Chinese Fire Drill back home 'The girls' ran into three separate Starbucks for the hunt and gather expedition. The third store was the charm as we walked out with three - one Shanghai for me, one Shanghai for Jane and a China one for her, too. Thus began Jane's window sill collection.

My collection has grown with our traveling about.  So much so, that the Big Guy has fashioned a beautiful wood shelf to house and display them.  Wanna see?

My New Shelf - Thanks, Big Guy!

Pete is WAY ahead of me since he travels to places like Fuzhou on business and we probably never will...but that's okay because I have Thailand and Phuket, right?  
The friendly competition to Beat Pete has resulted in playful barbs. Pete remarked to Gordon that building HIM a shelf TWICE as big as mine will be necessary sooner than later. :o)

Anyway, it's been a fun way to collect something that represents our time here in China and the Asia Pacific region. I've justified this collection by every one's need to hydrate and reminisce.  In the Chinese way these mugs take up very little space and are a practical addition to our household.  When we're older and grayer we can sip hot water with sliced lemon from our mugs (because caffeine will be off limits) and we'll fondly recall our three-year China Adventure.  It's a Good Life!

Thanks for Reading,


Cricket
P.S.Before leaving on a trip to Cambodia I researched to find the closest Starbucks to Si em Reap or Phnom Penh. NO Starbucks ie: NO mug - I almost cancelled the trip! 

2012 - The Year of the Dragon

The Chinese New Year began January 23, 2012. Thus begins the "Year of the Dragon" according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The last time it was the "Year of the Dragon" was in 2000 and the world kept right on spinning into an awesome new millennium. Through the years back home we've patronized many Chinese-American restaurants.  Often the table is set with paper place mats indicating the 12 Chinese Horoscope animals which correspond with birth years.  It was always innocent fun for our crew to discover the correct animal for their birthday and chat about it's significance between the early egg roll arrival and the appearance of several domed stainless dishes.  Our immediate family has a Tiger, Monkey, Rooster, Rat and Dragon among us.  I was born in the Year of the Dragon, so this, I'm told is going to be my year! The dragon signifies change and reform and is quite powerful.  I'm to wear something red that is visible all year long to bring me good fortune and happiness. Scarf? Coat? Bracelet? Ring?  I haven't decided what it will be, any suggestions?  [The Big Guy did suggest stocking up on red undies...]


I'm not superstitious at all and I do think it ridiculous that everyone born within a certain lunar month or year would all have similar personality traits but I'll play along this year for grins and chuckles.  However, I will stick my dragon-like neck out there and make a grand and general statement:

Chinese people are quite superstitious.  

They avoid the "unlucky" number four.  They don't want it to show up in their cell phone number, their address or license plate.  I've learned that you should NEVER give someone 4, 40 or 400 of something as a gift. Since the Mandarin pronunciation of the number four (si) is similar to the word "death" - (si),  "4" isn't a number you want to get close to. In some parts of China a buildings 4th floor is designated as Floor "F."   

 A "lucky" number is eight , (which is funny because that has been our lucky number since we were married on the 8th day of May-in a previous century.)  The number eight is highly sought after and I'm told that people pay extra to have more "8's" show up in those items I mention above. The pronunciation of the number eight is "ba" and similar to "ba-ba" which is father and elders are respected, therefore....well you get the point.  A simple enough superstition.  It's fun to be on the lookout around Nanjing for number "8's" and the lack of number "4's" in license plates and such as we tool through the town.

We have been regaled by the sound of firecrackers in Nanjing ever since we moved here at the end of March 2011. This is not just a childish sport as grown adult people purchase and heavily participate in setting them off.  Sometimes they are lit by construction workers on a rainy day in great hope that the loud noises will scare away the rain. Other times they signify a wedding or family-focused celebration.  And sometimes, well, we don't know WHY they are lighting them!  I asked our Mandarin instructor, Stefanie, about this tradition.  She told me to expect ALOT of fireworks on the eve of the Spring Festival/New Year. She also told me a Chinese fable about this tradition's origin. It goes something like this:

# # # # #

Once upon a time there lived a very awful people-eating monster named Nián. He terrorized villagers on the last night of every year. Needless to say, all the people feared him. They didn't want him near their village. As the New Year approached the villagers anticipated Nián's unwelcome arrival. The Spring Festival and New Year should be a time of celebration but the fear of Nián was very strong. The villagers sought a solution each year but nothing worked. Each year he would return to eat more people!   With all the home fires producing tasty dishes for that year's fabulous feast, one house caught fire. The flames were red hot and the timbers popped and crackled.   The villagers near the fire were safe from Nián, but outside the ring of fire the remaining villagers were not. 

 A man with great wisdom said, "Nián is afraid of fire and noise!  This is one way we can scare him away every year! Let's use red hot fire to keep bad things, like Nián, away from our village and our people."  And so from that year forward they did just that.  This is is why the Chinese use fireworks, firecrackers and display the color red.  They adorn their doors and windows with red symbols to keep evil off of their doorstep and invite good fortune and happiness into their homes for the New Year, instead.

# # # # #

In anticipation of all the noise and hoopla many of our expatriate friends have left China to vacation elsewhere for the holiday week. We stayed put mostly because we had just returned from Harbin, China's Ice Festival the weekend before <see post entitled "Cold, but it's a Dry Cold"> but also to say we've experienced a REAL Chinese New Year celebration.  I was quite surprised that the air was particularly still and quiet the week leading up to New Year's Eve.  What's the Big Deal?  Is this all there is?     
 
And then midnight of the New Year approached.

Here's a clip from the Big Guy's cell phone looking East out our third story balcony at 12 midnight. I wanted to dash and get the Nikon, but did NOT want to miss the show!

The sights and sounds went on non-stop at this intensity for well over 30 minutes! The sky was also on "fire" in the North, South and West quadrants of our skyline.  Thick air stung our noses with the acrid smell of gun powder and the streets were littered with red cardboard casings and boxes the following morning.  What we experienced rivaled any grand finale firework display we have ever seen.  We were awe-struck and glad we stayed in our jammies in Nanjing for this year's show right outside our door. Little did I know that within my lifetime I'd experience a Chinese New Year up close and personal while residing in mainland China.
Nián, thankfully, was nowhere to be found!  

Xīn nián kuài lè! 
Happy Chinese New Year, Everyone!
Wishing you a Prosperous, Healthy Year with Good Fortune!

Thanks for Reading,


Cricket
p.s. the fireworks and noise continue.....day three.  Apparently Nián is still a threat to some of our villagers. This "Year of the Dragon" may 'drag -on' for awhile...Pop! Pop! Pop!