amy974•2mo ago

My brother called my rock collection 'just a pile of stones' and it got me thinking

I was showing him my display case with about 50 pieces I've gathered from hikes, and he said that. It hit different because he's usually supportive. It made me realize I collect them for the stories, like the green one from a river in Oregon or the smooth black one from my first solo trip. Now I'm adding little tags with the date and place for each one. Do you guys label your collections, or do you keep the stories in your head?

3 comments

3 Comments

grace892mo ago

I love that you're adding tags with the stories! I started doing that with my sea glass after a friend didn't get it either. Writing down the memory when I find each piece makes the whole collection feel more real to me. It turns the objects into a proper diary I can hold.

robert_jenkins822mo ago

Wow, a whole diary? It's just some old glass.

kevin_west2mo ago

I like what you said about it turning into a diary you can hold. A buddy of mine kept his concert ticket stubs in a box for years, and his wife saw them as just trash. When he finally put them in a book with notes, she totally got it and said it was like reading his life story. The labels make the meaning visible to other people.