This mug got broken today by myself due to my clumsiness and I was devastated, genuinely gutted at the time. You are probably wondering why a 42 year old man with a vast selection of mugs would be even remotely upset by a mug smashing, well, let me attempt to articulate it...
I am sentimental, (to the degree you could say I put the mental into sentimental), if you have ever written me a note, card, letter or given me a gift of any size or shape, the chances are I still have it, lovingly stored away in either a cupboard, cabinet or in my scrapbook. I can easily get attached to things as they are like little memory time capsules to me. I am always touched when someone cares enough to show me they like me, either verbally or physically so why this mug in particular?
Whilst it's true I am a huge Muppets fan, Kermit especially, it's not that. It's in part about who gave me the gift as they are no longer around. The mug was bought for me from HMV by my older brother when I went to live with him aged 18, I had mentioned I needed some mugs as I was going to be moving out soon and needed things for my flat eventually, plus it would be nice to have my own personal mug. The mug was on sale at the time, I said I liked it and he bought it for me on the spot. It wasn't a Christmas or birthday present, just an impulse buy because he cared about me and it was a nice thing to do. He is sadly no longer around and I'm sure if he was still here he wouldn't remember buying the mug as it was probably a much bigger gesture to me than it was for him as he was always doing nice things for everyone in his house, it's who he was. So there is that very strong factor why this has upset me as much as it has, it's another reminder he is no longer here and my clumsiness destroyed another part of one of my fondest memories. It really does bother me that it no longer hanging about, sigh!
But another factor that is leaving me melancholy is the fact that this here mug has lasted 24 years! It has been here all of my adult life essentially; all of my flats and houses I've lived in, all of my relationships and friendships, my children being born, my ups and downs over the years. My various jobs also - I would always get home and have a nice reassuring mug of coffee or tea from it and each time I saw it with all of it's cracks and chips, it would be like a friendly hug.
Sure, I have other mugs with a sentimental attachment, (just this past Christmas, one of my best friends bought me a wonderful mushroom emblazoned mug which I love because it's brilliant but also it means something as it's from a true friend), and I would be sad if they broke too but for whatever reason this one was particularly sad. I guess it's just a case that it's one of the last objects from my teen years still existing.
It is irreplaceable as it's history was what made it special, (plus trying to track down a 24+ years old mug would be tricky), I think we all have a special mug, right? I know it's tragic that I care this much about some porcelain, but I can't help that, I guess I'm just tragic.
To put a positive spin on it; perhaps it was just time for it to break, new year and all that. I know it's insane that I feel sad about an inanimate object and the fact it has been broken, in the grand scheme of things, doesn't really matter at all. To prove how much I adored this mug, here's a facebook post from a few years back singing it's praises as one of my favourite possessions:
So, in summary, cheers Kermit mug for the many reassuring cuppas over the years, speaking of which...I'd best go stick the kettle on...
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