Dig This Treasure!

I hope there are still some of you out there that are checking in on our blog!  Here I present you, loyal readers, with a total random entry.  Alas, it is a cool one, so appreciate it (who knows when we will have another).  Whomp whomp.

Zach and I went to DC two weeks ago for a wedding.  And like most DC weddings (I assume) it was officiated by a member of Obama’s staff.  So that was pretty amazing.  They also served mussels and oysters during cocktail hour.  I don’t like any seafood, mostly because I am uncultured.  I am mentioning the mollusks because for some ungodly reason I decided to try one.  It was awful.  It was mushy, with more secret pockets of extra mush.  So to anyone who eats these, there is something seriously wrong with you.

Bivalves aside, the wedding was insanely gorgeous and the actual dinner was incredible.  The DJ by far was the best I have EVER seen at a wedding. 
We danced, we smiled, we drank, we smiled more.  It was lovely.

OK, so what does this have to do with treasures? This one day while out sightseeing, we spotted what looked to be an antique store.  It was in fact an antique store, but everything inside was presidential related.  

They had old campaign buttons and ephemera.  They also had actual items belonging to past presidents–pens, cuff links, even a shoe from Harry Truman.  Do you need a golf ball signed by George W. Bush?  No?  OK, well if you change your mind, they have it. 

While looking around, I spotted this tiny gold Christmas tree and inquired about it. 

Turns out that this is a Christmas ornament that Ronald Reagan gave to only his staff.  There are not many in existence, although the guy running the store wasn’t sure of the actual number.  It even had the original envelope and tissue paper it came in.  Here, have another look:

I know, right? So cool.  Another fun fact is that Ronald Reagan started the White House Christmas ornament tradition.  Every year, the White House releases a new ornament for the public to buy.  That means our little ornament was right there in the beginning as this tradition was born. 

The price was $125 which actually seemed reasonable to me.  We bought it of course.  We also bought a program from that year’s Christmas Services at the White House.

I know what you are thinking.  I am thinking it too.  What the EFF is up with Nancy Reagan’s signature?! 

I mean, COME ON.

We saw lots of other things to buy, but they were out of our price range.  Zach did buy his parents some neat old campaign stickers from Eugene McCarthy.  Here, I googled him for you.  

So that’s the latest on our treasure hunting.  Hope to check in with you guys again soon!  Happy hunting!