key finding
The car I now drive, post-accident, is a station wagon that’s been kicking around in my family since the early 90s. It belonged to my mother, then my aunt, then my stepdad, now me.
I’m trying to embrace the vintage feel (and smell) of this big ride. This big ride that was manufactured before cup holders, CD players, or before power windows became a more common thing. It is a light brown color, oddly long yet squashy looking. The license plate contains the word FIG so it written. It’s the Fig from here on out.
There are a variety of puzzling hidey holes in and around the dashboard of the Fig. They are too small and square to hold anything drink-like — or anything useful, for that matter, except for a small bottle of Purell and a pack of hypothetical smokes.
I recently found this key in one of the Fig’s less-accessible holes. I suspect the key was lurking there, forgotten, for a long, long time. This key bears the very distinctive stamp of style that is my mother’s.
Stars and stripes key on a cheapie keychain. Classic. Mom always loved maximum flair in her accessories. The stone on the keychain appears to be green agate and the closure is pretty retro — I venture to guess that this is a souvenir from the American Southwest, maybe even something acquired when we lived in Phoenix back in the 70s? I don’t doubt something like this could have survived many moves, surviving in junk drawers, until someone like my mom fished it out, seeing its potential.
Now, when did colored, patterned keys come around? That has to be a 90s thing at the earliest, right? I may have to ask a locksmith this burning question.
But who cares about these lesser mysteries — what is this key for? It’s for a door that deserved its own keychain, that’s what. A storage space? A neighbor’s house? A portal to an alternate, glitter-filled universe?
Alas, the family members that are still around are unable to answer this question. But maybe that’s for the better! The mystery is pretty tantalizing.
related hamblinks:
I have never seen a key like that. A little hello from Mama. Maybe it is a key to the hidden safe where she kept all those war bonds.
It appears to be a house key.
That is the kind of lock that this key is usually associated with in my limited view….
As for colored keys, I have only seen them in the past ten years.
But I do not get new keys made very often….if at all.
Looks like a house key to me. Did she live a secret double life, and this is her “other” home and families house key??
My Faux News lovin’ step-mom makes sure all her keys get this print on them. You can get them at Home Depot or any number of other fine key-making establishments. Just remember that if you ever make a joke about that particular design in front of someone like my step-mom, you may incur a wrath that not even Rush himself could imagine. And you will never be able to escape the “You dirty America-hater” shadow that will suddenly come upon you when nearing certain homes.