Collections​
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Nobody would call me a hoarder, but I do collect a lot of different things. And I consider these collections 'projects' because they gradually accumulate over the course of years—if not decades. Some, like baseball cards, are a common hobby; others, like dryer lint, most certainly are not. I enjoy collecting things for the learning opportunities they provide and the simple gratification of adding another piece to the group. Some of my collections are valuable monetarily, but all hold some degree of sentimentality. Below, in alphabetical order, are my 25 best collections:
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Baseball Cards
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My father began collecting baseball cards around 1973. When I began playing little league baseball, he kindly donated them to me, scattered around the bottom of an old alarm radio box. His efforts inspired
me to collect cards of my own, which also included basketball (my preferred sport) and Pokémon cards. Concerned about the potential damage that the 'valuable' baseball cards were enduring, my godmother and I sorted them in alphabetical order in two self-adhesive photo albums. The cards in the two books below are all from the 1970s whereas those from later decades (or football cards) are piled in the box to the left. The lone card protected by a wristwatch case in the center is a Topps Nolan Ryan from 1975, which I believe to be the most valuable in my collection—but not by much! I estimate the whole collection to be worth no more than a couple hundred dollars. But, hopefully, its value will appreciate with time.
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Bonis Businesses
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I began 'collecting' Bonis Businesses around 2007. As I child, I was rather fond of money. Naturally, I founded my own business, 'Bonis Businesses,' in which I served as founder, president, and CEO (the powerful roles) while my younger brother, Timothy, was everything else. As shown below, we even created our own business card with the slogan: 'Work in Many Ways'. However, the only two businesses I recall that ever fulfilled my monetary aspirations included the Christopher Shop—in which I sold old junk for exorbitant prices to my own business partner whom I manipulated into doing so—and Christopher's Handwriting Club, where I charged my parents a few bucks for a thirty-minute lesson with Timmy to teach him how to write legibly. After a couple years of creative thought, we were forced to close most of our enterprise, leaving only eight 'businesses' that I figured still held any potential. At this point, the 'company' is completely defunct, but one of my old LinkedIn profiles still lists my title as president.
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Clovers
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I began collecting four-, five-, and even six-leaf clovers in 2012. During fifth grade, a friend discovered a sort of mutant patch of grass home to an uncanny number of clovers with additional appendages. We theorized that perhaps a dog with radioactive urine had relieved himself on the grass and mutated the local DNA. Anyway, we'd spend our entire recess crouched over this patch, combing the blades for special clovers. Once severed, I'd hold them tightly between my thumb and index finger (to begin the pressing process) before discretely placing them inside a heavy dictionary that I'd shove inside my desk—typically under a second dictionary. A week later, I'd carefully remove and transport them home in a plastic bag leftover from lunch. Eventually, my friend grew bored with the activity, but I continued the search until graduating from elementary school, finding several five-leaf clovers and even one with six leaves! However, my knack for finding clovers has persisted, be it the high school courtyard or even at a basketball tournament—which we won! Maybe they really are a good luck charm.
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Coins
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I began collecting coins around 2007. Inside this treasure chest (protected by two locks) lies my American coin collection and other valuable items. I probably started the collection out of my interest both in money and historical artifacts. It has always brought me great joy and wonder to hold an object that was used by people long before my time. I inherited a portion from my grandfather, who bequeathed to me a number of silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars. I own several proof coins (second image) as well as a 1943 zinc penny, Indian Head cents, buffalo nickels, a barber dime, and coins with various minting errors, like the 1955 'Bugs Bunny' Franklin half dollar. Most of these I purchased at a Boston coin show in 2010. I also have two complete state quarter sets. Although I no longer collect coins as fervently, the subject is still of interest to me and I never forget to check my change for something special.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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I began collecting Diary of a Wimpy Kid books in 2008, shortly after the first book was released. This series was perhaps my favorite growing up and I continue receiving them as Christmas gifts to this day. I never cared much for comic books (or 'graphic novels') and superheroes in my youth, but something about the journal of an ordinary American middle schooler really appealed to me (and many others). As I recall, however, the first book was actually intended for young adults. In any case, the cross between comics and autobiography was an innovation in novels. Although I found much of the diary relatable, I'll admit there were moments in which the author, Jeff Kinney, reminds us that he hasn't been a kid since the early 1980s! I don't think he has spent enough time dealing with the Internet's impact (especially social media) on young people. Perhaps he doesn't know how. Lastly, the series has added significance to me due to a family connection: My father used to work with Mr. Kinney before he became a successful novelist! In fact, several years ago, the author returned to his old offices and offered to sign books. As a result, several of my copies now bear his signature!
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Dryer Lint
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I began collecting dryer lint in 2016. This...this is one of my more unusual collections. While I was emptying the trap one afternoon, it occurred to me that there must be something useful that can be done with all this dryer lint, which is essentially a soft bundle of clothing fibers combined with hair and dead skin cells. For example, I (correctly) figured that it would make for a good fire starter if I ever wanted to go camping. But, I was really just bothered by seeing a potentially 'valuable' substance go in the trash bin every time we dried our laundry. However, upon realizing that I would never use it productively, I stopped collecting lint and have since abandoned the boxes to the basement, where they reside today.
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Dum Dums
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I began collecting Dum Dums lollipops in 2012. Discontinued food products have always intrigued me. Be it a snack, a soft drink, or (as in this case) a confection, I've always been interested in so-called 'forgotten flavors.' Perhaps there is something delicious lurking in the past! In sixth grade, my homeroom teacher, Mr. Chen, would hand out lollipops and Jolly Ranchers for demonstrating good behavior during our quiet reading period at the end of the day. As he did so, I often wondered about the different flavors and how they'd changed over time. After all, I knew that there were Dum Dum varieties then that I hadn't encountered at the town parade years earlier—and vice-versa. So, I conducted some research and stumbled upon a whole list of flavors that Spangler, the manufacturing company, had toyed with over the years. Most striking was the observation that one of my favorite flavors, tangerine, had been recently replaced by orange, which has a less enjoyable tanginess. Naturally, I quickly found myself seeking out as many retired flavors as possible and—at least with tangerine—was successful upon discovering that my history teacher possessed an old bag. I pleaded with her to give me that wonderful lollipop. Since then, I've managed to find coconut, banana split, dulce de leche, limited-edition flavors, and more that Spangler no longer makes. Hopefully, they will bring back tangerine in the future.
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Exotic Woods
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I began collecting woods in 2016. I find this material extremely interesting—even more so than rocks or seashells (below). As mentioned on the 'Woodworking' page, I have three books at home dedicated to the various forms in which wood appears. Now, I have a drawer filled with heavy exotic wood (which broke it, by the way), that I have no intention of ever using. The three pieces in the first image are leftovers from the exotic cutting boards I made one Christmas for family members. These include padauk, a bright orange species from West Africa, wenge, a dark brown species from Central Africa, and zebrawood, a magnificently striped species from Central-West Africa. The woods in the second image are all pen blanks I purchased online. The most expensive of them, incidentally, is also the shortest: kingwood, which gets its name from the series of French kings in the 17th and 18th centuries who preferred its use in their furniture. I've since added more species to this collection, including ebony, snakewood, and much more.
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Family Tree
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I began 'collecting' my ancestors in 2011. It wasn't until 2018, however, that my interest in this project was rekindled after submitting a DNA sample to Ancestry.com. After receiving my results, I began researching my family's history and discovered more than 750 direct ancestors! (Unlike most trees, I don't bother with aunts or uncles because, frankly, I'm not interested in finding my cousins!) At one point, I thought I could trace the ancestry on my maternal grandfather's side—person by person—back to Charlemagne, who died in 814 AD! I've since discovered a mistake, however. Still, that line can be traced back a long ways. The document below is a British World War I enlistment record of my great, great grandfather, Patrick Joseph McGovern (father of Georgina McGovern in the tree below), who died in 1926. Apparently, his trade was hairdressing! As for my father's side (the Hungarians and Poles), there are far fewer good records. After a great deal of hunting, I still cannot find the names of my own grandmother's great-grandparents. Hopefully, as I continue my research, I'll eventually find them.
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Fountain Pens
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I began collecting fountain pens in 2015. My paternal grandfather always loved fine pens and I must have inherited that trait. Upon his death, my father received all but three of his Mont Blancs. And those three went to me, initiating the collection. Instead, however, of purchasing more luxury German pens at exorbitant prices, I searched Amazon for the most inexpensive, yet highly-rated fountain pens I could find. The brand that stood out was Jinhao, a Chinese company that sold attractive, solid fountain pens for only a couple bucks! Granted, each took no fewer than three weeks to arrive! Gradually, I accumulated twelve of them. In the first image below, the fountain pen on the far left is the first I ever purchased, a (Japanese) Pilot Metropolitan. Next to it is a pen by Skilcraft, an American company. To the right of that are the three Mont Blancs from my grandfather—and finally the twelve Jinhao fountain pens are in the center in their own special pouch. Next to them lie a Parker Vector (also American), one of my favorite pens of all time, followed by a Lamy Safari (German), and lastly another Vector—this time gold. Lately, I haven't been purchasing any fountain pens, but I admire their grace and sophistication as much as ever.
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Glasses
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I began collecting glasses around 2015. Despite a family history of poor eyesight, I don't—thank goodness—have to wear prescription eyeglasses. That being said, I've accumulated a wide variety over the years, each with its own special purpose. In the bottom-left lies my oldest pair, some rear-view (spy) glasses, followed by Real 3D (movie theater) glasses above, then the same but with lenses poked out (for style), and finally a pair of Solar Shields that my grandmother used after having eye surgery. At the bottom of the next row lies my personal pair of sunglasses, which I inherited from my grandfather. Above it is a pair of yellow 'night vision' glasses that legitimately seem to make things brighter, especially in twilight. Then comes my first pair of computer glasses (note the reflecting blue light) and some cheap, red sunglasses that I thought looked groovy at the time. In the third row are two more pairs of junk sunglasses, followed by two solar eclipse glasses, which were used during the famous astronomical event in August, 2017. I've since purchased a pair of aviator sunglasses, but mainly use them to shield my eyes from onlookers.
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Hats
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I began collecting hats around 2010. Similar to sunglasses, however, I'm hardly a hat-wearer; I spend far too much time coiffuring each day to conceal my hair. That being said, I know they make for a fashion statement and so I've managed to gather a small collection for myself. As with many items on this page, I inherited a significant portion of these hats from my grandfather, including the Panama hat (third from bottom-left), the solid black and light brown homburgs above, and the two flat caps above them. As one would expect, they're all significantly nicer and more expensive than the hats in the right pile, which all (minus the Santa hat!) served as part of a Halloween costume at one point. I may not wear hats, but, should I receive another one, I'd be happy to place it atop these stacks to expand my collection.
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Hot Wheels
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I began collecting Hot Wheels around 2006. Much like baseball cards or coins, a collection of these iconic Mattel toys is not uncommon. Some people have amassed enormous collections of these miniature cars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars (more than real cars)! Nevertheless, I'm content with my few, the first of which I believe to be the boxy blue car with flames, which I received as a child from a McDonald's Happy Meal. I enjoyed it so much that I requested more Hot Wheels for my birthday—and the collection today is what resulted. Perhaps my favorite one is featured in the second image below, a green car with blue-tinted windows and a chrome interior. I've always loved its color scheme, spikes, and slick design. In the back, I have a spring launcher designed for racing Hot Wheels. Of course, I don't play with them anymore, but I still like to admire my collection from time to time.
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Ink
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I began collecting ink in 2014. I didn't only inherit a few fancy Mont Blanc pens from my grandfather; I also received his entire collection of liquid ink. Before my contributions, his assortment consisted of black, brown, green, and several shades of blue ink—including one that was turquoise! It was impressive indeed (brown ink is hard to come by), but I wasn't satisfied. After all, it was missing my two favorite colors for writing: red and violet. So, I purchased a bottle of each from Waterman, the luxury French brand that my grandfather preferred. In addition, I have a few packages of ink cartridges, which I use for the Lamy Safari and Pilot Metropolitan fountain pens. They tend to be more expensive, but are simpler and far less messy to install. Collecting fountain pens and ink often goes hand-in-hand—at least at first. But, at this point, I'm not looking to augment my box; I probably have enough ink to last a lifetime.
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LEGO Cars
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I began collecting (or building) Lego cars around 2008. To the left of my Hot Wheels collection lies another colorful assortment of miniature plastic vehicles. When I built things out of LEGO as a child, I never had any intention of taking them apart—ever—even when I designed them myself. Of those pictured below, the first car I made was the red race car (second from back), which remains my second favorite. My first favorite is the 'President's car,' which is featured in the second image below. It's by far the largest and most intricate, equipped with a (non-functional) control panel and warning lights as well as a working cannon (with safety features) and even a smaller car should the President or his aide need a separate ride. Of course, I don't play with LEGO anymore, but I will never dismantle these cars.
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Magazines
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I began collecting magazines in 2014. It seems almost everyone has such a collection, whether intentional or not. Often what happens is you purchase (or are gifted) a magazine subscription, but only flip through the issue when it arrives, saving it in case you wish to examine the material more thoroughly someday. A major such culprit is National Geographic, whose yellow borders nobody seems capable of discarding. In my case, however, I didn't even bother looking through them! I was just so captivated by the beautiful cover of my first Wellesley-Weston magazine (which residents receive for free) that I kept it for myself. Since then, I've continued the tradition by admiring each season's issue before quickly squirreling it away on a top shelf near the kitchen. Like many magazines these days, I believe Wellesley-Weston is filled mostly with advertisements, sprinkled here and there with articles that almost nobody reads. Still, as long as they send those pretty covers my way, I'll provide a chronological archive in mint condition.
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Old/Discontinued Sodas
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I began collecting old and discontinued sodas in 2014. On Christmas, my step-grandfather, George, requested that I fetch him some cola for dinner. So, I ventured down to his basement, expecting a fresh, two-liter bottle of Coca-Cola near the bottom of the stairs. Instead, the only cola I could find took the form of a dusty, tarnished can with an unfamiliar design. Well, it turned out that this Diet Coke (far right) had expired some seventeen years earlier in 1997! Nevertheless, George, being his hearty self, drank the can dry—enjoying every last drop. After dinner, I returned to the basement to locate any other old and/or possibly discontinued soft drinks. Sure enough, I discovered several more misshapen vessels in packaging I didn't recognize—but with logos I did. These included Vault Zero (left of Coke can), a hybrid energy drink discontinued in 2011; bottled Crystal Light pink lemonade; Coca Cola C2, a low-sugar version discontinued in 2007; and two bottles of Diet Coke Plus, a version fortified with vitamins and minerals that was discontinued in 2011 after a legal dispute with the FDA. George was gracious enough to let me keep them, even without any sugary compensation. A couple years later, I added a bottle of Crystal Pepsi to the collection during its long-awaited return in 2016. Alas, looking to declutter in 2021, I sold all of the unopened bottles on eBay for a total of $49! Perhaps I should give a cut to George.
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Oui Yogurt Containers
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I began collecting Oui yogurt containers in 2016. It goes without saying that I eat a lot of vanilla yogurt. Typically, however, this sweet snack costs less than $1.50 per cup. Oui (French word for 'yes') is Yoplait's attempt at a 'French style' yogurt. You know it's gourmet because it comes in a glass container! As such, I would consume only a few each week. Still, they accumulate over time and I stacked each dish-washed receptacle on a shelf near the kitchen in the hopes of someday finding a use for them. The five-Oui-deep array now contains some 120 jars amounting to around $180 of yogurt. I'm sure my mother would prefer to have the space back, but I haven't the heart to discard such cute containers. It's also kind of decorative!
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Paper Airplanes
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I began collecting paper airplanes around 2008. My first plane was probably of a simple variety, the one you make in six careless folds that flops uncontrollably in the air before falling to the ground. I cringe at the thought of making it today. However, it wasn't until I received the Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes (a popular gift for 2000s boys) that I made my first decent airplane—and later my go-to design whenever a folding competition would arise in middle school or summer camp: the Nakamura Lock (top-left corner). Simple to fold yet magnificent to fly, I quickly committed the steps to memory and wowed the crowds with my paper prowess. Years later, I returned to the book to test out the other designs, which I hadn't attempted for at least a decade. To my good fortune, there were exactly enough pieces of specialty paper in the back to fold one of each. So, with my adult-level coordination and precision, I went about doing just that—resisting the urge to test them out. But, to this day, my favorite plane remains the Nakamura Lock.
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Playing Cards
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I began collecting playing cards around 2008. Now, I recognize that this is a tiny collection. There are collectors with massive numbers of playing cards from different time periods all around the world. Still, I'm happy with my seven decks, three of which my father purchased for me when traveling to Iowa and Los Angeles (Century Plaza). My substitute AP U.S. History teacher gifted me the Presidents pack upon winning a trivia challenge in class. The three on the bottom aren't fancy, but they're the best to actually use. What I like most about playing cards is their versatility; I can use them for simple (war) or complex (bridge) games, magic tricks, throwing, or even stacking! Oh, and there are more ways to arrange a deck of 52 cards than there are atoms on (or of) the Earth. That means that despite the billions of shuffled cards over the centuries, my arrangements are most certainly unique. And that's nice to think about.
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Rocks
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I began collecting rocks around 2007. And there used to be many more than this. I suspect they're scattered around the house at this point—if not outside! Geology has been an interest of mine for as long as I can remember. I enjoy studying how rocks are formed, the minerals that compose them, and what they can tell us about the past. Rocks are so full of variety and natural beauty. As for the individual specimens, I 'collected' the two smooth dark river stones (center, center-top) from my father's office building as a child. The one featured in the second image is a geode full of shiny quartz crystals. I won't go through the rest one-by-one, but see if you can spot the granite, or the sedimentary rock—or the most perfect skipping stone I've ever found. I will use it only if I can find an equally perfect body of water!
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Seashells and Sand
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I began collecting seashells around 2007 and sand in 2010. As a child, my family would visit Florida's Sanibel and Captiva islands in winter as a warm getaway. I never cared much for swimming in the ocean or playing in the sand, but I loved collecting seashells. Much like rocks, I enjoy studying the various forms a chunk of calcium carbonate can take and their respective levels of rarity. I distinctly recall learning about the junonia, the rarest and most valuable of them all. Although we found some that looked similar, I was never able to add a real junonia to my collection. Still, I think I have a decent assortment of shells—even a seastar and an intact sea urchin! Those in the purple box are among my finest specimens. As for the bag of sand (bottom-left corner), I collected the purest, whitest sand I could find when traveling to the Bahamas by cruise ship as a natural souvenir. You won't find sand or shells like that on the Cape!
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Ties
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I began collecting ties around 2014. Among many other items, my grandfather bequeathed to me his collection of neckties. Unfortunately, nearly all of them were either worn out, out-of-style, hideous—or all three! They did, however, come with a nifty electronic rack, which saves closet space and keeps ties organized, motivating me to use it. Upon retiring my grandfather's collection, I created my own, starting with a red/dark blue striped tie I wore whenever a formal occasion arose. Eventually, I grew dissatisfied with having only one that was wearable and purchased a number of inexpensive, yet stylish ties on Amazon. I aimed to have at least one of each color, of medium-width, and with simple patterns that go well with most shirts. My go-to knot is the half-Windsor, whose size and shape suit me perfectly. So far, I've worn only about half the ties in my collection, but I'm sure I'll use them all at some point.
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Wallets
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I began collecting wallets in 2014. Yet again, my paternal grandfather is responsible for much of this collection—all of it, in fact. And, as indicated by the amount of wear, he used every last one of them. They come in multiple different styles, colors, and designs, including long (coat) wallets, checkbook covers, and more. Two are red, others black, blue, tan—and a few are even made from exotic leathers, including alligator, ostrich, and snakeskin. As with most of his accessories, I'm sure they cost a pretty penny. However, the only two I currently use are the passport holder (for my dual citizenship) and the business card holder (top left-hand corner), which I mainly use for my IDs. Apple Wallet really comes in handy!
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Webkinz & Webkinz Blankets
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I began collecting Webkinz in 2007. At the time, the toy was very popular among children my age. The name itself is a sort of portmanteau between 'Web' (from the World Wide Web) and 'kinz' from the Canadian parent company, Ganz. The website launched in 2005 with the novel idea of connecting real-life stuffed animals to the emerging world of interactive, online gameplay. Kids across North America were soon hooked on 'adopting' virtual pets. And there were lots of fun activities, including designing your house, mining for gems, playing arcade games (inside the game), and more. As I recall, I was obsessed with accumulating as much KinzCash (the game's currency) as possible, even though I spent very little of it! In addition, my godmother knit matching blankets for several of my Webkinz so they could sleep soundly at night. To this day, I know my login credentials by heart and still log on from time to time.
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