Paul Merrill
I’ve always been fascinated by Japan. Japanese culture is so different than American culture. Here are just a few examples that capture my imagination: In Tokyo, living and shopping spaces bring efficiency to levels never achieved in the USA. Artisan culture is expressed in fascinating ways, such as extreme pour over coffee methods that have …
For once, I will come out in favor of hoarding – as long as it’s in someone else’s attic. The Hill Top General Store in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, is a very humble museum. They have everything from collections of old tools, a room of vinyl records (including the songs of Stevie Wonder, as performed by …
This Ferrari sold for more than $8 million. Yes, million. And it’s probably older than you are. I tried to think through what would motivate someone to spend that much money on such an old car. 1. It’s art. Yes, it is a beautiful car. And it’s almost as rare as a Picasso painting. 2. …
My in-laws gave Heather this lovely mouse pad, back when our boys were about 2 and 4. The oldest is now in college. Things fall apart. In this case, the rubber on the back of the pad started to deteriorate. Fine powder began spreading around the home-office… time for the trash bin. But thanks to …
I love Urban Outfitters. My sister introduced me to the store when she lived in Chicago. They have a collection of eclectic clothes and weird stuff that I occasionally spend money on. So this book on their shelves caught my eye. My wife Heather spent the better part of six months dealing with this very …
During the summer, I saw an amazing toy car collection worth thousands of dollars. It was not in a museum – but in a home office. Few people beyond the collector, his wife and daughter ever see these cars. So why would he invest so many hours and and so much money in that? (One …
Rachel has the collector gene. I know it. Heather knows it. These reading glasses broke recently. To avoid her keeping them for an unknown art project to come, I skipped the step that might come a few years down the line and quietly put them in my nearby waste basket. Yes, you can call me …
Ever since we moved Heather’s parents out of their home of nearly 40 years, I have been keenly aware of the need to not keep things. As I read an article in Car & Driver several months back about middle-aged men collecting and selling their childhood Hot Wheels toy cars, I regretted that I gave …
Rachel created this lovely piece of art. My urge was to keep it. Somewhere. Instead, I “kept” it by taking this photo. When I was a kid, we didn’t create as much art as kids do today. My parents were blessed by not having to face the dilemma of which of the many many pieces …
Saturday was such a fabulous day! Not only did Ed send us a package, John and Amy did too! They know what a collector I am. I fight the urge, but it brings me much joy to collect. And when the collectables take up little space, all the more joy. Thank you, John and Amy! …