Some people collect stamps, others postcards, some even broken hearts but I prefer matches. Tucked neatly within the boxes are the adventures, the trips and all the "first's" in my life. These reminders are secret, between me and the all of the places I have been. So what you see before you is not just an "interesting" collection it is the pieces of my life that make me ... me.
I will never forget my first book, although it's now worn and tattered, it was once vibarant and alive much like the memory of Julio, my first kiss over ten years ago.
It was the summer of 95 and my older sister and I spent two weeks in Switerland.
We were staying at the hotel krebs and Julio was on holiday with friends.
He was porteguese, handsome and and older man (all of 19) and, while nineteen hasn't changed I have. It's funny how what once felt so old now feels so young.
And just like in <i>that</i> movie his room was next door to ours. We locked eyes in the hallway and predictably we spent 6 days in puppy love bliss.
There were promises of "I'll write and see you again" but they were quickly forgoten much like the shape of his face, or the taste of his lips.
As a 26 year old woman, I still remember the butterfies and every time I see the "hotel krebs" I find the girl inside me still believes in fairytales.
I moved here from Isreal 9 years ago, and recently I discovered that "home" had finally moved with me. I was visting my family in Isreal, I go about three times a year. We were having sushi for dinner in a resturant called "soho" and I thought to myself "I miss home". The book reminds me that while I always have my family in Isreal I have finally grown up enough to have made a "home" of my own. A large part of my collection is from Isreal, as is a large part of my life. Moment cafe was a favorite place of mine growing up. If you find yourself on that side of the Mediterain stop in for the worlds best coffee.
Hidden within the Monet like image, is a reminder that sometimes when life gets complex that I should take a moment and look through watercolored glasses.
Papa Gaio, is also a first but not for me, it is a first for Isreal. It is a brazaialan bar and grill that serves pork. Isreal being govered by the laws of judism forbides the eating of pork. Actually, in Isreal farm breed pigs are not allowed to touch the ground and remain on a elvated platform thier entire lives. You can imagine my surprise when my brother mentioned a pork serving restaurant. I am not sure if this a sign of progression, exceptance or sin.
Paper moon is one of those fancy shmancy resturants which has four locations. I have two in my collection one from NYC and the other Tel-Aviv. While some people search the world for burried treasures, I'd settle for just two more Paper Moons.
And then there are those times you love remembering but are so glad
that you were drunk enough to forget. Meridiam Restaurant and tequilla are forever linked in my mind. I was in Mexico for the twenties-something version of spring break. One night, we decieded to take it easy and go out for a simple, authentic mexican meal. We didn't realize the food was just away to stop the absorabition of god knows how many shots of tequilla. We got drunk, danced with a mariachi band
and ended up getting kicked out of a swimming pool at 3am. The rest of the details remain foggy but I am still amazed at the fact that I managed to stuble out and grab a book of matches at the same time.
Hotel Bristol was another first for me, it was the first trip me and my now ex-boyfriend took together. He's gone, but I'll always have the memory of Vienna.
On a side note, I am happy to report that the matches in that book do in fact work. I used them to perform a cleansing ritual that involved burning pictures of that asshole when he went from boyfriend to "that cheating son of a bitch". The second part of the ritual involved getting on the next plane to South Beach. Where at the bond street lounge the hot bodied suntanned florida men reminded me of why I was better off without him.
Of course not every book in my collection has a story of significance attached to it. Some books I collect for novelity, like the tiny tiny ones from crumpler bags which is everybodies favorite or the ones from some of nyc's hot spots. But, to me each book still remains a milestone and every burned match a memory.