Platypus Provocation

All right, see this first picture?

Call it a “platypus box,” for want of a better name. It’s an art object, obviously, although the top of the platypus does pivot to the side revealing a cavity within. A Japanese-American woman who was a good friend of my sister used to make these, and my sister gave one to me almost 20 years ago. Maybe it was only 15 years ago, but I’ve had it for a long time (relevant). It has always sat on top of a coffee table or stereo speaker or some such place, in several different households my wife and I have occupied.

Now look at the second image. Interesting, yes? Believe it or not, I found this bronze ashtray in an antique shop in Granville, Ohio, also a long time ago, maybe 15 years or so in this case too. I’ve never seen anything like it before or since. Someone reading this, perhaps my Aussie friends, may be able to tell me more about it. It has no brand or manufacturers markings, but based on my limited knowledge of such things, I’d say it may be a sand-cast bronze. In any case it’s rather primitive, with the exception of the exquisitely-formed platypus (about three inches long). And the decorative border looks Maori-like to me (as if I would know). Platypuses are found in Australia and Tasmania, so why not some kind of native or aboriginal decoration?

But why mention these things? Simple: I’ve had both of them for roughly 15 years. For the last six months, they’ve both been at opposite ends of the same coffee table. Just yesterday I had occasion the rearrange some of the objects on the table, and in so doing I placed the wooden carving and the ashtray side-by-side for the first time ever. And guess what?

I NEVER REALIZED I HAD TWO FREAKING PLATYPUSES!!! This is astonishing to me. I’ll bet most of you have none. I’ve had these two things for years but never put them next to each other. I’m a DOUBLE PLATYPUS guy and never knew it. Is this weird or what?

Someone who should know told me that when two things, events, objects, whatever are perceived for the first time to be a “pair,” this means something new is coming into consciousness. TWO PLATYPUSES! This could be really big or merely stupid.

Isn’t this exciting?!

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