Choirboy

After my Father died (now nearly seven years ago), my brother and I went to his house. We started (in rather rote fashion) sorting through his possessions in order to create a funeral homage to him. We found personal possessions, our adoption papers, his wedding license, newspapers with landmark headlines and a small assortment of holiday ornaments and figurines. One of these was a holiday choirboy figurine that had to be from the 1950s (above). I felt compelled to save him and in my pocket he went.

A few months later and following the death of my mother, I had to leave California and we moved back to New York. The day before I flew back to the East Coast, I drove to Marv's house in San Francisco and put the Choirboy on his bedroom nightstand. I had no clue whether Marv would know what this figure was or meant.

When I arrived at my new apartment in New York, I gathered up my mail. There was a small box waiting for me. In it, the Choirboy sat cushioned in tissue paper with a note wishing me welcome to New York.

Damn him.

On my first trip back to San Francisco, the Choirboy sat safely in my luggage. I left him standing in Marv's medicine cabinet. He found it two days later.

Marv and MeiMei came out for a visit that Fall. The Choirboy ended up in the top shelf of my closet when they left. It took ten days for me to discover it.

On our next trip, we took a mutual vacation to St. Thomas. The Choirboy was wrapped in tissue and was firmly tucked in the side pocket of Marv's luggage. He discovered it when he got home.

Marv had a press junket in New York. We met up briefly. The Choirboy ended up in my purse.

I went to San Francisco on business. I placed The Choirboy on a shelf in Marv's basement populated by multiple figurines. In fact, I think The Choirboy was genuflecting below the Jesus Action Figure. It took Marv four days before he noticed it.

It was soon back in my mailbox. With postage due.

I was back in San Francisco over the holidays. And of course I brought The Choirboy back to its roots. I positioned it in the kitchen.

When I arrived home I found this relic wrapped in tissue in my luggage, ready to assume its place again on the East Coast.

This would have tickled the shit out of my Dad.