Sold to the highest bidder

This vacation story will make more sense if you understand the cast of characters. Here they are:

 The tall stick figure on the left is Jim, standing next to his wife, Pat.

Jim and Pat have been dear friends of the family forever.

The not-as-tall stick figure is my brother-in-law, Gianni, standing behind the couch 

and next to my sister, Kathleen. Anyway, we were all at Jim and Pat's house, 

drinking margaritas, when J&P and G&K proceeded to tell the story of a recent beer tasting 

they had attended, followed by a trip to the Palm City Auction. 

They swear the beer tasting did not influence their decision to bid on a certain item, 

which all agreed was meant for me. When they presented the item to me, I had to agree. 

All I had to do was figure out a way to get it back to New Mexico – it was big and heavy and fragile.

Jim took care of that. He packed it up like a precious piece of art (because it is), 

and I checked it as baggage. Amazingly, Delta Airlines didn't break it or lose it.

Smooch was as curious about it as you might be by now.

Between the duct tape, the styrofoam, and the plywood inserts covering the glass,

it took quite awhile to unpack.

Smooch lost interest.

Had she looked closely, she would have appreciated the fine detail 

of the donkeys that framed the mirror...

...and the cowboys in the corners with their hands up. I'm not sure what donkeys and cowboy bandits

have to do with one another, but it doesn't really matter. This work of art could only belong in one place, 

and that would be my house, specifically my laundry room/mud room/coat room. 

Now I can see what I look like and properly adjust my hat before I go outside.

Thank you, Pat and Jim and Gianni and Kathleen, for recognizing fine art when you see it,

and for listening when it spoke to you.

The laundry room is my new happy place because of this art...

and also because the washer and dryer are working again!