Collectivitis!

I come from a family of collectors...it's in my blood.  While I was growing up, my mother collected glass and ceramic hens and chickens--pretty popular in the late 60's, early 70's.  She also collected tea cups and saucers, and spoons.  (She still has her spoon collection).  My grandmother loved thimbles and being a quilter I love having her small but varied thimble collection.  One of my aunts went through a time of collecting an assortment of bells.  My little brother, Tim, besides collecting coins, had the most unusual collection of anyone I know.  He saved the wishbones from chickens, turkeys, and cornish hens which we had eaten!  Anyone who visited his bedroom would be immediately drawn to his "Wishbone Collection" on the top of his dresser.  (Of course, being the older sister, I was mortified that this creature/brother was related to me!)  The last I knew he was collecting milk bottle caps and has made it into an e-bay business!


My own collections included postmarks -- something my mother also did as a young girl; postcards, coins, which eventually became Tim's (a more respectable substitute for dried out wishbones) and buttons (the kind that make a statement, political or otherwise!)  I still have those buttons, but soon they will be going to my daughter who also has somewhat of a penchant for collecting...never mind that it may be clutter (a trait she inherited from her father!) 


It's ironic that I, a life-long progressive--dare I say liberal!--would get attached to collecting the symbol of the GOP--the elephant.  This is thanks to my wish-bone collecting brother and his first wife who, 30 years ago, gave me my first elephant to grace my coffee table.  And that's a story for another day.


So, anyway, while looking at my collection one day, I came up with the zany idea of showing them off on this blog!  One elephant a week!  The challenge I gave myself:  using each elephant as a springboard for a "spiritual lesson".  This may be harder than I think.  But I have the first one done. You'll have to wait until Friday, which will be my TGIEWD!  (Thank God it's Elephant of the Week Day!)  Perhaps I might even get to writing a poem or two!  Happy Wednesday!