My favorite envelope opener

Sometime in May of 1964, just over 50 years ago, my sister and brother spent some time in Brussels visiting family friends and attending to other business.

When they returned home, they brought me a memento of their trip in the form of a solid brass letter-opener, adorned with the Manneken Pis, a famous small bronze sculpture found in Brussels and featuring a naked little boy urinating into a fountain's basin.

This piece of memorabilia crossed an ocean, survived more than 12 moves and, half a century later, is still in my possession, which is why I cherish it so much. Whenever I use it, this small item reminds me of my two siblings, even though mail-opening is becoming a rare activity these days...