The Journey

I'd have to say that it all started when my Uncle Larry gave me 4 metal miniatures for my birthday when I was a kid. At that time I was very interested in fantasy fiction so he bought me a knight on horseback, a goblin, and two trolls. For me, they were the most intricate looking action figures I had ever owned. More importantly, I learned they were a small part of a larger set. I remember examining the back of the box for my next big miniature purchase. I wanted to collect them all. Of course the short attention span of a child, combined with the limited resources of an allowance, never allowed me to complete the set.

However, this didn't deter my interest in collecting. My focus merely shifted as I grew older. Later on I would collect comic books and specialties trading cards. As an adult I am rabid about owning a complete set of any movie or tv show that I deem worthy for my personal video library.

There a few collections that come along that might take decades to finish. I have one such collection that fits into this category and I am beginning to see the end in sight. As I scan down the list of the "Haves" and "Needs" I notice that the "Needs" section has become unexpectedly small. Considering the fact that it has taken me so long to get this far, I had never imagined that I might one day finish the collection. And now that the destination is in sight, I am surprised by the odd sadness that I feel because the journey was so enjoyable.

While I will soon be able to sit back and admire the completeness of my collection, I will always think back with fond memories of the joy I derived from the hunt for the next missing item or the anticipation of the next acquisition.

Whoever said: "Life is a journey, not a destination" must have been a collector.