Sunday, April 22, 2012

COLLECTION OF MEMORABLIA

Stones with lichen!
As I walked along the Cornwall beach, last August, I was fascinated by the beautiful stones all over the place. I wanted to collect as many as I could. They were green, blue, grey, white, black, pink, striped, jagged, rough as well as smooth stones. Each one was a genuine work of art, crafted by the beautiful waves which keep coming on shore and then beating a hasty retreat.
I kept collecting the stones and brought them back home. Once back at home, other mundane affairs took hold of me and those beautiful displaced stones kept lying in some lost bag, in some corner of my house.
I have many such bags strewn all around my house. Some bags have trinkets; some have handicraft items, innumerable table cloths, lace articles, numerous umbrellas and hand fans, magnets, shot glasses and plates.
One day I think, I will find time to sort out my stuff, and then I will display all of them properly.

Beautiful stones!
I do display a lot of stuff in my house, but then a lot of stuff still keeps lying somewhere forgotten.
I now realize that a day will soon come when I will have too much to sort and not enough energy to clear those cobwebs and sort out all my items.
Why do I then want to keep collecting? Why do I simply love to decorate my house?
One day I will leave this house. What will happen to all those articles collected by me?
The people who acquire my house will not know what to do with all that I collected with so much love and care and sifting.
Why do I then keep collecting?
I love a beautiful home. I love to decorate my home. I love to live in beautiful surroundings. What after I do not live anymore?
I wish I had left the stones where they belonged.
What about the handicrafts? It was made so carefully by someone, so lovingly and painstakingly. I can't wish to return those works of art.
Why do I accumulate so much?
Stones with life!
Maybe because I love beauty and want to live a beautiful life surrounded by beautiful things! But then in my collection also are a lot of memories. Memories of happiness, innocence, beauty and joy!!
I wish that those who acquire my house inherit all that happiness, and joy and innocence and beauty!

2 comments:

  1. Very real thoughts which all of us at this stage indulge in. Most of the things we collect have a lot of sentimental value which the collector only knows and values.It means nothing for the inheritor and will therefore receive the treatment the item deserves sans the sentimental value. Why worry about what will happen to it when we are not there.

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  2. True Ranjana. One must live in today and not worry about the morrow. What will be will be!Thanks a lot.

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