When I was a child my maternal grandparents had set of concrete statues out in their front yard of a Latino man wearing a sombrero and a donkey carrying some wicker baskets. The entirety was made out of molded concrete and painted, except for the wires that held the “baskets” onto the donkey and a piece of rope that ran from the donkey’s bridle to the man’s hand. Ever since I can remember, my grandparents called these two, “Jack and José”, which was usually accompanied by my grandfather giving his best donkey braying impression.

Jack and José were a constant amusement to us children and we often asked to sit upon Jack’s back and take him for a ride. Eventually this stopped once we got too big, but we would still stop by and give them each a pat while making the rounds to see Grandpa’s gardens. They were still there when we sold the house after my grandparents moved to the nursing home; shortly thereafter they went away.

I never really asked how my grandparents, who are as white and German as they come, came to possess such an odd lawn ornament. I am sure that one does not arbitrarily go out and buy set of 600 lb. Latin American concrete statues, but there was nothing in my grandparent’s past or nature that would have necessarily prompted such a thing. I should probably ask them sometime when I visit, if I remember. Regardless of their answer, however, a lot of memories are wrapped up in good old Jack and stalwart José.


As a prelude to the new year and to jazz things up a bit around here, I’m posting some interesting things that I’ve been grabbing with my flatbed scanner over the past few weeks. Some might be poignant, some funny, some just strange — but if you read here regularly, you’re used to that by now. I hope you enjoy.