On themes, favorites, and collections

My dad likes blueberries. We picked him a pint of wild ones last week in northern Minnesota. (more on this tomorrow!) We made and delivered a coffeecake to him today because he claims to like them so. If you are not someone that broadcasts their favorite things you may want to reconsider. It really is something of a public service enabling others to easily minister or gift you in a manner you will surely take pleasure.

I'm a themer/collector myself. I think it helps keep life more organized. I love teaching using themed unit studies. That's the way my brain works and I figure it will work for at least one of my offspring! Unfortunately my brain wasn't engaged when I gave each of my first two babies a 3 foot Christmas tree complete with a themed ornament collection to be added to annually. Four additions later we are not only running out of display space I am becoming hard pressed to present appropriate distinct themes. My kids names are even themed. You may think it is obvious as they all start with the letter "M". But I carry it to a whole new level of crazy by making up rules about the number of syllables and letters each name must contain. And I suppose you could call them a collection in and of themselves since once you have 3 of any one thing you can call it a collection.

I also collect Talaveras Sunflower pottery from Mexico, sewing machines in their tables, and turtles. All these collections have pretty much reached critical mass as I continue to make room for my growing collection of human beings. To keep a collection from overtaking your life I here are a few tips.

1. Make your collection exact. I only collect land turtles that don't have faces. (this automatically weeds out any more living things I would have to feed)

2. Make your collection hard to locate or get your hands on. Some time back I was making a yearly trek to Mexico when I visited my grandparents and I would drag back trunk loads of Talaveras. Staying home has curtailed this collection, with a little help of destructive little people.

3. Make a collection the goal of which is to eventually take care of itself so well that it moves out of your home! Get back to me in 20 years and we can chat about how well that is working out for me...

One word about choosing your favorite or collection you plan of sharing with others. Think before you speak. I once made an offhand comment to my mother about collecting polar bears for Christmas decorations. It is hard to bow out gracefully once the gifts start pouring in. I may have just come up with a Christmas collection for Merritt...

Notice the pottery keeping company with the dust bunnies above the cabinets.