Precious things, but what do we do with them? I obsessed over these beads for about 4 months while in Afghanistan. The vendor at the bazaar always asked for $75 each bead, or $300 for the entire string (73 beads). I couldn't, wouldn't spend it, but just adored them. So beautiful, precious, unique. There was nothing else like them at the bazaar, yet no one bought them during those 4 months. One day, during the bazaar, during the month of Ramadan when good Muslim men do not eat nor drink between sunrise and sunset, I confess I took advantage. It was September and terribly hot at the dusty bazaar. At 3:50, when the administrators of the bazaar were announcing loudly over loudspeakers for all vendors to pack up and prepare to leave, I approached my bead-seller. It was late in the day, he wanted to leave, perhaps sales had not been what he wanted. He was tired, thirsty, weary. I talked him down to $50 on the entire string of beads.
I still don't know whether I got a good deal or not. I don't know if these beads are valuable or junk. I don't know any of these things except that I like how they feel between my fingers. They are still on the piece of thread that the vendor sold them to me on. I don't know what to do with them except run them through my fingers like a rosary, counting each bead. Worth $50? Who knows.
Precious things with no use but memory stimulus. And for that, they are priceless.
oh they're very pretty! i would have spent the $50 on them too (though not the $300 - that's overkill!)
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