Recently a friend invited me to visit the collection of an individual that was elderly and looking to sell off the majority of her collection. This person had been a librarian and collected all types of antiques (including dolls) for the last 45 years. Unfortunately, this poor lady had lived diabetes and emphysema for many years and had to have one of her legs amputated at the knee. This prognostication involved her having to let go of her autonomy and massive collection, as she was going to have to move in with her daughter and her family so that she could be looked after from now on. 
As we walked through her home, this collection was like walking into King Solomon's Mines. It was 45 year of collecting that really bordered on hoarding. Her daughter explained that her mother had lived that way for years and that it had cost her her marriage. The ladies husband just could not live anymore walking through pathways of doll boxes and any longer and left her 10 years before. Sadly, due to her smoking, age and inability to dust and clean properly the majority of this spectacular collection was hidden under (and I'm not kidding) a quarter inch of dust. One had to wipe away the dust to see through the clear cellophane that the dolls were still incased in. I won't go into the amazing "hard to find" "nrfb" things that she had in her collection because that is really not the topic of this blog. But, suffice to say - IT WAS SPECTACULAR! There were items in her collection that I never knew had existed.
Finally, I began to talk to the lady who was sadly sitting outside because she no longer could navigate the home from her wheelchair. She began to lament to me that her collection meant the world to her. But, since she she growing older and her family was not interested in her hobby, she had no choice but to sell it to help pay for her medical bills. She expressed how now she wished she had been a bit less obsessive with her collection and had instead traveled more. Ultimately, she expressed the desire to had owned less "things" and instead had more "experiences" so that now she would have memories of those to last her for the rest of her life.
This experience really affected me. I got a glimpse into my own future. And, although I do have a healthy "travel life" etc. - the only thing that currently separates ME from this lady was the ability to dust, clean and merchandise (display) my collection better.
So, I've decided that I have to start reevaluating my collection and start letting go of thing that I don't "really" need. Of course, an argument can be made that I don't really need any of it...but the truth is that a lot of my collection makes me "smile" (especially when I'm having a shitty day), but I'm sure there are a few things that I can let go of. Especially, in lieu of all the new merchandise that I.T. has just revealed yesterday...ugh...they are ALL gorgeous! Not to mention the upcoming convention in Los Angeles!
So, this weekend I will sift through my collection and start to make a "to go" pile that will make it's way onto ebay at some point soon.
Finally, thanks to all of you that have written me so many nice emails about returning to my blog. I will try to be better about writing on it as much as humanly possible.
Also, I've enclosed a video and some pics of my collection as it stands today...before my next "purge". Hope you enjoy!
xoxo,
Frank
