A few of my favorite things

Not too long ago a friend of mine and I were having a conversation about collectibles. He mentioned the various collections he possessed focusing mostly on the authentic documents from some of our Founding Fathers that he had managed to get his hands on. He asked me if I had any collections and I told him of the baseball cards and a few other sports memorabilia that are sitting in a cedar chest at home collecting more dust than they are value. These trinkets are simply reminders of simpler times for me and, would probably bring less than $1000 in a collectible shop. But that collection is no longer growing. My friend then asked me if I had anything else I was currently collecting and it got me to thinking about my most prized menagerie. I began this collection a long time ago but it is my favorite collection of all. Some I have had for over 40 years. The Internet has allowed me to find pictures of some that are no longer in my possession and I’m surprised how many out there are still in near mint condition. All of my collectibles are precious to me for one reason or another. I have had to let a few of my collectibles go over the years and every time I do it hurts me. But I invariably find another to take its place. Like most collections, the more time you spend with them the more enjoyable they are. I would never think of keeping them shoved away in a corner somewhere only to be looked at from afar. I love to show them off on occasion and don’t even mind sharing them with others so that they too can enjoy these objects of my affection. I imagine I will continue to collect until the day I die. How did I grow my collection of memorabilia to the extensive collection it is today? I haven’t found it difficult at all. You just have to know where to look. I’ve picked up a large number of them from my workplace. A number of others have come from the schools I once graced the halls of and trade shows I now attend occasionally. Clubs help considerably. And, most recently, social networking has helped me add to my collection. Some of the pieces I have in my collection may be old enough to be featured in an episode of Antique Roadshow but I treasure them just the same. And I don’t limit my collection to just the antiques. A good many have been made within the last few years and I am sure that there are others waiting to be added to my collection years from now. Yes, I love this collection and have done without many things in my life to be able to add to it. Yes, I would surely like to think that I would even lay down my life to add another to the group. After all, isn’t that what The Bible tells us. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay day his life for his friends. After all, what better thing is there to collect than friends?