Jack Metzger, the artist and gallery owner who founded Outback Jack’s Antiques And Collectibles, called me today and  said he found an object that was meant to be with me, he wouldn’t take any money for it, he said, it was a gift.

We met  him at the store to pick it up.

It is, a curious and interesting, a metal donkey that once held matches and hand-rolled cigarettes in the thin container labeled “Nex Smoke”. When you pulled the donkeys tail, a cigarette fell out. Matches in the side saddle.

Maria and I both loved it and are trying to figure out where to put it. Jack is right, it is just right for us.