Pinocchio Mug
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Pinocchio Mug
In 1997 I went to Orlando with my wife on our honeymoon. We decided that since it was Christmas time that we would do some Christmas shopping at Disney World. Goofy hats, Mickey sweatshirts, the whole nine. But I remember especially something I bought for my Dad that year. We went to this Pinocchio village place and I decided that since it was an Italian themed kind of place that I would get my dad something there. I bought a coffee mug for him with a scene from Pinocchio on it. Pinocchio was always my favorite Disney movie and honestly at that time my dad was Seventy-something and we had stopped buying him big presents years ago. So just little things. He loved it.
In the years to come I spent more and more time with him and watched his health decline. Our Saturdays and Sundays consisted of watching golf on TV or just sitting quiet and bullshitting about everything. Usually he would cook a Lasagna or pot of spaghetti for the weekend and after eating we would defy his diabetes and eat something sweet and have some coffee. I was always a coffee snob and would usually have either Starbucks or at the very least Dunkin Donuts. I would make a run and come back with Styrofoam or paper cups. Dad was pretty simple though. He preferred instant coffee from water boiled on his little senior citizen apartment stove. So I would make his instant coffee and I would usually pour it into one of two mugs. One mug was given to him by my mom and said “World’s Greatest Lover.” The other was the Pinocchio mug. If it was just the two of us, I would use the mug that I gave him and then say something in Italian to him. It’s a great memory for me since dad passed away about a year and a half ago. When we were going through his things after the funeral one of the few things I really wanted was that mug.
This morning I woke up late with a lot on my mind. I got a baby on the way. I’m remodeling my cellar. I’m working on a new show. I’m thinking about the future a lot and not really looking back. In a rare rushed morning routine I decided to skip my French press or auto drip coffee maker and designer coffees. I wanted something fast so I reached for the instant coffee, which I have in the refrigerator and really never use. I don’t know why I even have the stuff. But for some reason I reached way back into the back of the cupboard. Behind the good dishes and cups that match. I reached way back and pulled out the Pinocchio mug and used that to make a cup of instant coffee. I was hardly sentimental as I did it nor was I thinking of how bad the coffee would be. I was on autopilot and just did what I did. I let the dogs out and pulled on my sweatshirt and pulled the hood over my head and walked out barefoot into the yard to feel the contrast of the cold pavement on my feet and the warm spring sun on my face. I watched the dogs run and then I looked down at the mug.
I saw a scene from Pinocchio. An old Geppetto stands at the door of his little house. His arm is raised waving goodbye to his boy. Running away from the house with his back turned is Pinocchio and his conscious Jiminy chasing after him. Pinocchio holds an apple in his hands and his eyes are fixed on it as he holds it in front of him. With his books in his hands he follows the path ahead. As you rotate the mug to the right you see the path ahead. It twists and winds and there are the usual suspects ahead. The wolves. Stromboli and his puppets. The whale. The ocean. The future. Rotate it back and see Geppetto waving goodbye and wishing him luck. Rotate it back and see the open mouth of the whale. But if you hold it dead center so you can drink from it. You see Pinocchio. A feather in his cap. Running. Skipping. Chasing. No strings. Straight ahead. I get lost in this scene and wander around the yard transfixed and lead by the mug in my hand. And I wake from this morning daydream and see where I am. I’m now standing in the garden of my backyard. I’m alone. The dogs have wandered off to the other side of the house. My wife is away at the doctor. I stand barefoot in my garden that is covered in crossed over broken tree limbs from the winter storms. I sit down on a tree stump. And I drink from my father’s cup.
Matt says:
That was us, the little child waving goodbye as we venture out, and now my friend your turn is coming to watch as, one day, the little one waves goodbye.
Hope all is great!
April 3rd, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Joe Bednar says:
That’s awesome, you big sap. When my Nana died in 1996, all I wanted was the teddy bear who had shared her room for the final few tough months. He’s still sitting on my desk today, probably asking if I want something to eat.
Anyway, a coffee toast to your Dad. And also to an imminent one. You’re gonna need that coffee.
April 3rd, 2007 at 7:32 pm