Lonnie slowly lowered the paper wrapped figurine gently into a large moving box marked “DONATE”. Pausing and reconsidering, he lifted the item out and peeled off the layers of covering to reveal a small Hummel porcelain statuette. His mother called it “The Sensitive Hunter”, a young boy carrying a rifle and stooping to observe a small brownish red bunny. It was ironic, mom would say, though he himself had never thought too much about until this moment. In reality, it was his mother he was remembering.

She had placed rows and rows of these small figurines across the top of their upright piano which served far more effectively as a curio cabinet than musical instrument. He remembered and smiled. Placing Sensitive Hunter back into the wrapping paper and lovingly protecting his memory with care, he placed it into the box at his feet. This one was marked “SAVE”.

Vanessa observed this through the doorway and felt motivated to intervene. Crashing into his room, she blurted: “These are just things, material possessions. Nobody wants Hummels anymore, goodness knows our kids don’t. Why are you saving them? And why is the SAVE box stuffed full and the DONATE box completely empty?” It was a sincere though cutting question.

Lonnie offered: “I don’t know. I just can feel my mother’s presence when I look at these, when I hold them.”

Vanessa had had enough of this and barked: “You are so weighted down by these things, simply because of what they represent. Because of the attachments. They are just things! I so wish you could free yourself of these traps, these demons. I really am worried about you.”

Lonnie was well used to this and meekly responded: “I’m sorry, I can do better. But can we just keep this one? My mother said it was ironic and I never really understood that until now.”

Vanessa gave in: “One, just that one.” She then stomped back to the family room which contained several large and fully packed boxes marked “DONATE” and none entitled “SAVE”.

Holding a shrouded Sensitive Hunter in his hands, he slowly and painfully lowered it into the empty box.