Lost But Not Quite

When forgotten things take on significance

Someone shared an article with me once, which I cannot find, about—if I recall correctly—bits and pieces of disused or removed infrastructure in Japanese cities, and a name in Japan for these things. Like, a scrap of a railing, or a visible streetcar track under pavement, or something like that. An artifact, I guess, but in particular reference to the ongoing changes in cities and the things that get forgotten or left behind.

If you know me, you know I find this kind of thing fascinating. It’s one reason old cities are fun, interesting places. There are new things, as there should be, but there are old things, and hints of old things.

But what made me think of this most recently was a listing for an electric pencil sharpener on the Office Depot website. Specifically, the Panasonic KP-150. There’s a price—$46.29—and a notice that the item is no longer available/out of stock.