17 Comments
User's avatar
Tracee's avatar

Collecting is always fun. I have collected buttons, albums, candles, pocketbooks, I was on this Vera Bradley craze. Saving, all the art work, my children have ever done. My last collection was cookbooks, and medical books.

I held on as long as I could. When, I let it go, ( by default). I always, hoped that I completed someone's hobby.

I am now on this road of collecting my thoughts, Although , it is not tangible. I appreciate this confidence to comment, give my opinion. Thanks for listening 🎧

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Elizabeth M. Johnson (she/her)'s avatar

Tracee, you seem to always offer a take on this question that I don't expect! Here, it's the idea of giving up a collection and hoping it completes someone else's. Lovely! Thanks for sharing this generous thought.

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Melissa Amateis's avatar

I have a huge collection of Snoopy and Peanuts items, so much so that I no longer have room for most of it and have had to downsize! I started collecting right before my daughter was born, and as she will be 25 in a few months, well. I've accumulated a LOT of stuff!

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Elizabeth M. Johnson (she/her)'s avatar

Peanuts! Gosh, Melissa, that takes me BACK! So cool. Plushies, I imagine too. I bet you needed more room! How many moving boxes did you need for that collection?! Thanks for sharing.

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Melissa Amateis's avatar

I have about four plastic totes stuffed to the brim with items; and then I had an entire curio cabinet stuffed full. So it took quite a few boxes!!

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Elizabeth M. Johnson (she/her)'s avatar

Amazing! This collection HAS to come into a story at some point. :-)

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Melissa Amateis's avatar

Yes it does!!!

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Allison Kirkland's avatar

When I was a teenager I spent all my babysitting money on elaborate candles, like candles shaped like wizards or flowers or stained glass windows. I think by the time I went off to college I owned about 30 of them and I never lit them, I just lined them up on my dresser in my childhood bedroom. Thirty seemed like a lot! Now they belong to my nieces, who are too young to understand what candles are and just carry them around or decorate their room with them.

This was before the current scented candle craze. Candles are still a major weakness of mine, especially if they are particularly well scented, but now I have only 5 or 6.

The only thing I actively collect now are Christmas ornaments. My husband and I pick out a new ornament every place that we travel together. We now have ornaments from California, Maine, DC, Vienna, Brighton, etc!

I also have a special box where I collect tickets or programs from all the shows and exhibits I've ever been to -- from rock concerts to Broadway shows to impromptu organ concerts and museums. It's very disorganized but someday I'd like to find a way to display them.

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Elizabeth M. Johnson (she/her)'s avatar

Mmmm, what a rich visual all those candles must have been. Soothing, I think, in your bedroom. And I love that your nieces have them now! And a special box for tickets! Very different collections, Allison. <3

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Holly's avatar

I actually do collect post cards, stationary, and letters. I wouldn’t say avidly but I can never pass up the opportunity to hold onto correspondence from others and stationary to reply! I collect clothes for sure, quality and timeless pieces. I also collect magnets to put on my fridge from any place I’ve visited, it’s always fun to remember where I’ve traveled and it’s an easy souvenir to pack in my carryon. Recently I’ve been finding myself collecting large feathers whenever I find one, somehow it reminds me that life is beautiful and life is meaningful.

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Elizabeth M. Johnson (she/her)'s avatar

What a diverse list of collections, Holly! And feathers!?! I think a need a picture of that collection.

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Larissa Parson's avatar

I was *just* talking with a friend yesterday about this. She and I both collect modalities. Often that looks like a stack of books related to something (current stack: books on relationships and boundaries), but sometimes it looks like a closet full of equipment for teaching something in particular, like the 14 half-rollers I just gave away.

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Elizabeth M. Johnson (she/her)'s avatar

I love the word "modalities" to describe these kind of collections! Thanks Larissa.

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Bridget Williams's avatar

Wooden Boxes (jewelry, music, keepsake, etc.) of various sizes and shapes 💙 in my mind they’re like treasure boxes 🗃️ little secret keepers to me yet I’m not totally sure my reasoning for being attracted to them.

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Elizabeth M. Johnson (she/her)'s avatar

Ooooh, that's so cute, Bridget! I love the idea of little treasure boxes in your home. That feels very special.

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Sarah Ponda's avatar

Plants! 🪴

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Elizabeth M. Johnson (she/her)'s avatar

Of course you do! Love seeing photos of them. :-)

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