A Collector's Nightmare

Stan Grimes
All my collections are collecting dust. I always start collections with an enthusiasm matched only by competitors on the “American Idol.” I started several years ago to collect walking canes. I now have three. Soon after that, I began collecting old bottles. I have six. Next came my fascination with deck prisms; I have three regular-sized and two miniatures. I decided I liked old lanterns. I counted four, two that work. The list goes on: 4 glass insulators, 1 bottle of marbles, 27 ink pens, 1 vintage pop bottle, 1 wooden barrel, and a partridge in a pear tree.



The collection I am proudest of is 723 unpublished poems in the second drawer of my file cabinet. My collection of unpublished books isn’t too shabby either, 5. I’ve got one old rifle and a scope that doesn’t fit it; two Indiana University mugs, seven dirty oil filters I haven’t taken for disposal, and 25 paint buckets containing dried or gummy paint. I have four old computer monitors, three broken keyboards, two dead mice, and two cheap speaker sets. My prize collection of 218 music cassettes lies in a rotting cardboard box in our garage. Yes, to say I am a collector would be a gross understatement.



My latest endeavor is gadgets. I have a Galileo thermometer (a real glass one), a nice ship’s compass, and a brass hourglass. Among some other gadgets: 6 battery-operated alarm clocks, one banker’s lamp (broken of course), one computer keyboard vacuum sweeper, and two (count them you envious critters) CD cleaner devices. Finally, the collection of a lifetime lies on the shelves of a bookcase twelve feet long and eight feet high, paperbacks. Eat your hearts out.



As usual, I have saved the best collection for last. The quintessential collection, the one all humankind wants to have for their very own. I have three (you heard me), four huge boxes of loose bills, cancelled checks, advertisements, and old insurance policies stored in the attic. Lest I forget, I have collected 29 pair of jeans, 18 useless shirts, and 7 pair of underwear that no longer fit. Beat that. I dare you. I double-dog dare you.

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Stan Grimes

Writing has been a lifelong process for Stan. He is a graduate of Indiana University and worked as a social worker for many years. Currently in a state of retirement,Stan continues to follow his passion of writing .His latest work of fiction can be found at Club Lighthouse Publishing, Fictionwise.com, Amazon Books. Feel free to purchase all of Stan's mystery novels at Amazon.com. Coming soon to an Amazon near your hometown Stan's latest work of speculative fiction "The Abortionist." Due to be published February 1st, 2011

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