Our lives are full of objects.

Think about an object in your (former or current) possession that one might call ordinary but that is extraordinary to you.

Ordinary can mean commonplace, commonly found, commonly purchased, easily reproducible or mass-produced, or simply something that isn’t of great value in a marketplace. Or, it could just be ordinary because no one else cares about it. A poster, a photograph, a pair of sunglasses, an old shoe, a new car. A locket, while very special, isn’t necessarily impossible to find in the world. A handmade armoire is of significant value but isn’t the only one of its kind. Some things, like a fruit, might expire quickly.

Extraordinary can mean that it has formal qualities you find incredible, beautiful, delicate, special for whatever reason. Or it can mean that while everyone else thinks it ordinary, you find it extraordinary in its usefulness, longevity, innovation, commonplaceness, excessiveness, potential for good or harm, anything. Or, perhaps when you see/use/eat/share/find/throw/wear/sit on/chew on/step on this object, it reminds you of something completely unique to your own life and no one else’s.

What is your ordinary object? What makes it extraordinary?

• What does it look like?
• How big is it?
• What is the surface like?
• How does it function?
• What do you use it for?
• What is its general purpose?
• Where does it live? Where did it live?
• Do you carry it with you?
• Do you keep it at home?
• Do you hide it? Do you display it?

Next, tell me a story about this object and why you think it’s significant. If you don’t know why it’s significant, just tell me why you thought of it at all. Also, a detailed description or digital image would be very useful; I want to be able to tell this story and draw this object from your words, so don’t hold back. You can tell me about its history, how it came to be yours, how long you’ve had it, or wished you’ve had it, or how you lost it, anything, really.