White Elephant Buddha

Back in college I befriended a family (or they befriended me...), a family in possession of a treasure. I didn't know they had this particular item until one day when, at a Christmas party we exchanged White Elephant gifts. Fortunately, I won the White Elephant lottery. I won the Cement Buddha.

Years before my friends had a neighbor who sculpted. Cement was her medium. When the neighbor moved, either my friend's family was given as a gift, or the buddha was left behind for them to find. Either way, they got the Buddha.

Even since we built The Cottage, the Cement Buddha has sat on our porch guarding us, watching over my family. I know I haven't respected the sculpture as I probably should--you see where the paint has chipped and the colors have faded. I keep him on our porch because he's fun and whimsical but because he reminds me of good times I had in college with my friends.