Stockyards Souvenir Search

My quest to find meaning in life from things I could find at gift shops led me to the Stockyards last week. I browsed through several gift shops and antique stores searching for items that people like Billy's mother could use to make sense out of life.


The first item I stumbled upon was this lamp. This might not be considered a typical trinket or souvenir but the symbolism I found in it was the shape of the cowboy in its design. Images like this with a cowboy riding a wild horse have long been associated with Texas and life in this area. Although today we rarely ever see the stereotypical "cowboy" let alone anyone riding a horse, the image still represents ideals that people from this region value. Depending on who you are, this image could symbolize courage, fearlessness, freedom, or the general wild spirit associated with the old West.

Like Billy's mother, I also found a crucifix in my gift shop quest for meaning in life. This particular crucifix is attached to a box in which you could store things. The cross is probably the most recognizable symbol around the world. It is a universal symbol for Christianity and faith. A cross can also be symbolic for the burden a person must carry in their own life. People look to symbols like this crucifix during times of trial to find comfort. A person's faith or religion is often one of the most important aspects of their life. Just like Billy's mother, even if people are not overly religious or belong to a specific church, they look to the symbolism of the cross and believe hanging one in their house will help instill its meaning in their lives.

 My favorite find of the day was a winged pig I found outside an antique store. At first it seems difficult to find symbolism in such a strange object but this object has a connection to my own life. One of my best friends was given a pig just like this one (but in a different color) as a present for graduation. We laughed about how strange it was and after a while we decided to name the pig Terrence. We started taking Terrence everywhere we went over the next summer and introduced him to all our friends. By the end of the summer Terrence had become our unofficial mascot and was a necessary member at every social gathering. For us, Terrence had become a symbol for individuality and fun. He represented the new found freedom we had during the summer and were looking forward to as we approached college. The meaning you can apply to life from this winged pig is that your life is unique. Just as this is not your everyday souvenir, each person has their own personality and characteristics that separate them from others.