Exceptions to the Rules

Ron and I are retreating at our cabin in the mountains of Colorado. One day we visit my favorite “art store” in Durango. I call it "the art store" not because there are paintings (through there are some), but because there are beautiful beds and tables and cabinets all handcrafted by a man and his wife. Artists. Our place currently has two air mattresses a large, round wooden table and a couple chairs. We’re not in a rush to furnish our retreat space, but we have our eye out.

“Honey, look,” I say, holding up green woven placemats. “These would look good on our table.”

“Don’t we have a bunch of extra placemats at home we can bring out here?”

“But these go with our theme.”

“What’s our theme?”

“Buy everything new!”

~~~

Okay, okay. Really our theme is to minimally furnish the place with recycled and reused furniture. But every rule has an exception. Actually, if I recall my law school studies correctly, every rule has numerous exceptions. And then there are exceptions to the exceptions. Here’s what I figure: this store is full of crafts from local artists who, I might point out, are using reclaimed wood and recycled materials to build “new” furniture and make handcrafted accessories. So I can buy that stuff, right? Right!