COLLECTING EXPANDS CREATIVITY

Throughout my childhood, I collected Archie comic books. I cannot remember whether my Grandfather, whom I called Papa, started my collection or if he was just an avid contributor to it, but every summer when I was at sleep-away camp he would send me, almost weekly, a manilla envelope containing three or four additions to my collection. The act of his buying the comic books, or even if he had asked his secretary to do so, along with the enclosed letter he sent me is one of my most cherished memories of our bond. After lights out each evening, I would take a few Archie comic books from my shelf with my red flashlight, pull the blanket covers over my head and read about the high school escapades of Archie, Veronica, Reggie , Betty and Jughead. By the end of the eight-week summer away at camp I had accumulated a sizable stack of comics that I added to my collection at home stored in a nondescript box in my closet. Once in a while, on winter nights when I was avoiding doing my homework, or when I needed the comfort of those summer memories, I would take a couple of comics out to re-read about the jovial antics of the gang at Riverdale High. When my childhood house was sold, my mother also sold my treasured collection when I was away at college, without even asking me. In some way, my sadness surrounding this incident had the affect of inspiring my passion to cultivate and keep collections.

Many years later I continued collecting for my own children. I collected Dr.Seuss books and the annual Hess truck that was released for purchase between Thanksgiving and Christmas for my son. For my daughter, I collected Corolle dolls purchased at Zitttle’s in New York City as holiday and birthday gifts. These collectible dolls feature costumed mini-replicas of historical, cultural and theatrical figures that we displayed on special shelving spanning the perimeter of her bedroom and eventually in a display case too. Looking back, at the boxes of these collections now saved in a storage unit, I realize that although these collections were for my children to enjoy, they were perhaps even more significant to me because through the process of collecting and now saving them I created a legacy of love for my family through the act of collecting.

Collecting does not have to be materialistically oriented. How about collecting family stories? You could ask the same question of several family members and collect their responses. For instance,“What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?” Once you gather all of their responses you can create a book of “Family Thanksgiving Traditions,” and these collected responses will become a creatively compiled memory.

Collecting is a great form of personal expression that reflects your creativity. Your collections are a kind of roadmap of the quirky, fun parts of your personality, your interests and passions and your personal style. Displaying your collections in artful ways can add beauty to your home.  These kinds of personalized touches actually turn a bland house that could belong to anyone into YOUR self-styled sanctuary.

Collections are artifacts of your life story and treasures to be enjoyed throughout your lifetime.  In this new year, perhaps you will start collecting as a creative way to enrich yourself.

Linda Joy Walder