Collections

Collection: the act or process of getting things from different places and bringing them together 

As much as I would like to downsize, I do admit to collecting a few things.  For each of my children, I started their first collections with a new Christmas tree ornament and snow globe every year….the collection will stop when they reach 21 years old.  Once they have their own apartments or home, then those collections will be sent to them.

I tuck a note in each ornament box sharing a few words about their stage in life, what they were interested in and how we spent that holiday.  I hope they will enjoy those messages and their holiday collections as they grow older.

I will share two of my personal collections with you.  One is sand…..yes, sand.  As you have heard me say before, I love the ocean.  Each time I visit a different beach I collect a small amount of sand.  The sand is from:  Mexico, Hawaii, Jamaica, Maine, California, Texas, Rhode Island, France, Russia and Greece. Along with the sand, there are shells and sea glass.

I am amazed how different sand is ~~ from color to texture to size of particles.  The whitest and finest sand is from Mexico. My daughter brought me red Sand from Red Sand Beach, Santorini, Greece and black sand from Perissa Black Beach in Santorini, Greece.  The sand most similar to each other is from Newport Beach,California and Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

I have mixed feelings about the sand I gathered from Omaha and Utah Beach during a tour of Normandy in France.  I considered this sacred ground and keep it with the upmost respect.

The Maine and Jamaica sand have similar shades of what I would consider “sand” color. I display the sand jars in the family room on shelves.  I think they do deserve better labels vs. ones from my label machine, but I’ll get to that someday!

My next collection is rosary beads.  When the World’s Fair came to New York City, I remember being in awe of seeing Michelangelo’s Pieta, which was on loan from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy.  It was sculpted in 1499 when Michelangelo was 24. My mother purchased The Pieta rosary and I was so fortunate to get it after her death.

Another favorite rosary I purchased was from the Vatican during our Italy trip in 2014. Each and every one is different~~the crucifix, centerpiece and beads.

I have my Aunt Gail and Aunt Jerry’s rosary beads and others I have collected from various parts of the world.  The one with the crystal crucifix is from Waterford Crystal in Waterford, Ireland and the red and blue rosaries were purchased in Mexico.

So what do you collect?  Please let me know!