World Dream Atlas

« I was in this beautiful mountain resort nestled among cliffs above a phosphorescent bay. There was a big roulette wheel there and when I spun it, the staff said, ‘Congratulations! You won a prize! You can pick from any of these watches.’ And, they weren’t very nice watches. They were very middle-of-the-line. I thought, ‘I’d never wear any of these, so which one can I sell for the most money?’ And, then they said, ‘Or, you can have this bowtie.’ And, they showed me this bow tie in a glass display case. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. It was made with black chiffon, and covered in muted sequins of red into turquoise into orange into deep blue. It was like the color of the phosphorescent bay. I remember, in my head, feeling bad about thinking so practically about the watches. And, when I saw the bow tie, it ultimately didn’t matter to me, because this bow tie - which was the most ridiculous thing ever - was so gorgeous and it captivated me, that I knew I would never sell it. I would wear it forever and pass it down to my children. Of course, I chose the bow tie. »

— Manhattan, New York, USA