Cathy Classics by Cathy Guisewite for December 08, 2023

I got sucked into the state quarters frenzy. Spent stupid money on fancy folders with each quarter on a page with info about the state, blah blah. Bet I could hardly give them away at this point.

Mad Magazine once published an issue with a different serial number printed on each cover. It said ‘Number xxxx of 50,000.’ Collect them all!’

Must people go through an acquisitive phase as part of learning to be an adult. The key word is “learning”, which involves knowing when to stop.

For children of scarcity, there is a certain logic to it. My grandmother hoarded cans of food under the bed because she remembered the rationing of World War II (where people in the USA got off relatively easily). However, she would NEVER have considered hoarding Hummel dolls, plush toys or any kind of useless “collectible”.

Collecting is as instinctive as feathering a nest. We are all crows in our hearts and many of us are smitten by shiny baubles.

Like anything else, there are just as many who would exploit that instinct in others, be it for diamonds or dogs, rare books or beanie babies.

Living in Mexico, where there are so many beautiful traditional craft items for sale, I have a hard time controlling my collecting instincts. One thing that helps is the fact that I live in a very small apartment with not much storage space.

Yup—I’m something of a hoarder, myself, though (a) not too much stuff, and (b) I’ve improved in recent years. Moving forces ya to thin out your archives, as does realizing I don’t really need a good bit of stuff. An ongoing adventure, for sure.

HI, MOM. Happy Friday, “Cathy” Clan.