1/22/06 - the joy of small things

January 22, 2006 - Sunday

3:48 PM - the joy of small things Last year, I smiled when I found out that a key characteristic of highly creative people is that they tend to have a lot of collections, especially collections of things that others don't see a purpose for. I think of how repetitive drug users feel as if an itch has been scratched when they get a hit of whatever it is they're addicted to; my guess is that I could liken the feeling to the relief I experience when I have a first sip of PBR after a tough day full of beer craving. Just now I purchased lots of stamps at usps.com, stamps that are now unavailable at the two post offices I frequent here in Athens. As soon as I clicked "purchase," I felt that rush of relief--the itch had been scratched. This weekend, Crackbaby and I joked quite a lot about how I am the queen of collections of crap. Sometimes she has an idea for a little project or present for someone: "I wish I could make a magnet for him," she'll say, and I'll inform her that I have several sheets of magnets (sparkly or white!) onto which we can print anything and everything. On Friday, she wanted a box to send to her boyfriend. "Oh, let's check my box collection before you go out and buy something!" I said eagerly--of course she started laughing immediately. This morning at Big City Bread, I told her with what joy I realized my cardboard and bag collections were far more extensive than I had thought (what a little reorganization of a messy office can do). Oftentimes, I don't even use what I have in my collections. I do like to take out all my markers, put them in order of color, arrange them in some appealing order, and shut the drawer. I've been doing this for as long as I can remember. As messy as I am (and as horribly, incurably messy I was when younger), I love to organize things. I always know where things are, even if people see my house as chaotic. There's something calming about sifting through my sticker collections and finding the perfect thing to put on an envelope for a friend, something exciting about looking through my envelope collection and stumbling across the appropriately-sized envelope for mailing a mix CD. My current collections include the following: box collection (one here, one in FL--I kid you not. My mom laughs at me.) cardboard collection office supplies collection (a few drawers full of the stuff) yarn collection bead collection CD collection materials/odds and ends for crafts collection bag collection (gift & travel bags) stamp collection (to use, not to marvel over) sticker collection envelope collection stationery collection magnet collection (though I usually don't display them all) pen collection pencil collection marker collection calendar collection (for envelope making) paper collection (for envelope making, stationery, etc.) Anyone else out there share my passion for collecting things others might see as useless? What satisfaction! Currently listening : What I Deserve By Kelly Willis Release date: 23 February, 1999