iBanjo

Dad had a lot of stuff. I mean, a lot of stuff.

Mom has been busy trying to clean out 30 years of accumulated objects, and the sheer quantity of things that dad “collected” is overwhelming. I guess the best way to describe it is that he collected collections!

What’s on my mind is: what does all this stuff say about somebody? What made this person tick?

• At least 25 different kinds of collector’s pocket-knives
• Ten very fancy pairs of binoculars
• Eight shortwave radios, spanning 1980 to the present
• More than ten different types of walkmen and portable CD
  players
• More than ten different types of fancy headphones
• A huge coin collection
• At least 25 nearly-mint overcoats and fancy outdoor jackets
• At least 25 nearly-mint luxury sweaters
• At least 25 perfectly-cared-for pairs of shoes and boots
• More than 50 J. Peterman catalogs

At first glance, my thoughts were, “why so much stuff? Is there any point?” But I’m starting to see a pattern to all of this. I wonder if it all plays into some sort of fantasy he had, maybe something from his childhood. He used to talk about how, as a kid, he wanted to be a cowboy, then later a spaceman. Look at the list of things above: they all play into the idea of adventuring and exploration. Sweaters, coats, and boots of all kinds to brave the elements. Binoculars to spy on the enemy. Pocket knives to survive the wilderness. Radio & communications equipment to signal back to base. And the J. Peterman catalogs… well, let’s just say they’re more like fantasy/adventure novels than clothing catalogs!

All I can say is: thank goodness for ebay.