Memories in Metal

Humans are fond of remembering things from the past via physical representation.  I am not immune to this trait.  Yesterday, I cut the last part of my past with media when I exchanged my vanity license plate for a more generic version.

The WKLY RAG plate I acquired in 2002 was a play on words, fit nicely on the frame and brought a bit humor to an often humorless enterprise.  Only a few people seemed to understand the meaning but that didn’t matter.

The art was created by Robert Wyland, known for his ocean themed works.  Apparently, he was in a disagreement with the Department of Motor Vehicles a while back so they’ve discontinued using his art, replacing it with a similar but inferior work.

That plate traveled more than 300,000 miles with me throughout Southern California for seventeen years, a little less than half my time in the business.  It saw many things, the good and bad, the slow of traffic and the late of night.  Like it’s owner, it too shows a bit of wear which we will call patina.  It reminds me of many things, some of which I will now let go of and move on.  And so, I have asked it to do the same…