07-25-2012, 12:18 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-25-2012, 12:19 AM by Henry Sakaida.)
Alot of people here in the US have this need to collect. Collecting everything and anything: Coins, stamps, old Barbie dolls, barbed wire, firearms, militaria,
autographs, handbags, cars, knives, books, PEZ candy dispensers, movie posters, postcards, pens, watches, binoculars, old dental equipment, typewriters...shall I go on?
Why do I collect Soviet orders and medals? Because of curiosity and the old saying: "If this thing could talk, what a story it could tell!"
When I get the high end stuff, I will try to squeeze it for a story. It there is no possibilty to make it talk, I will not buy it. It has to have a serial number or a connection to a name. That's why I stopped collecting stamps and coins in grammar school. I'm after the story. It's the hunt for the story that thrills me, not the item itself. The item is a tool to help me hunt...it gives me incentive. I have the medal, now, how did it get here? When did it get here? Why did it get here? What happened to the family?
All this stuff will survive me. It will be here long afer I am dead and gone. I do not plan to take it with me. I always tell people that I am the temporary custodian of these medals, NOT the owner. I did not win these medals; the recipient did. Once I solve the mystery, I move on.
I'm working on a case now involving 2 Heroes of Soviet Labor Medals: One belonged to a woman who lived in Moldova, and the other lived in Abkazia. I want to know their stories and how their medals got here!
So, I consider myself a historian rather than a collector. What I do keeps me out of mischief, keeps me busy, and my mind active. I love solving mysteries. I'm not looking to buy anything. However, if I find something that shows promise of being solveable, I am interested!
Life is for living, learning new things, traveling, making friends and acquaintrences, and most of all, having fun. Collecting brings alot of joy to many people.
autographs, handbags, cars, knives, books, PEZ candy dispensers, movie posters, postcards, pens, watches, binoculars, old dental equipment, typewriters...shall I go on?
Why do I collect Soviet orders and medals? Because of curiosity and the old saying: "If this thing could talk, what a story it could tell!"
When I get the high end stuff, I will try to squeeze it for a story. It there is no possibilty to make it talk, I will not buy it. It has to have a serial number or a connection to a name. That's why I stopped collecting stamps and coins in grammar school. I'm after the story. It's the hunt for the story that thrills me, not the item itself. The item is a tool to help me hunt...it gives me incentive. I have the medal, now, how did it get here? When did it get here? Why did it get here? What happened to the family?
All this stuff will survive me. It will be here long afer I am dead and gone. I do not plan to take it with me. I always tell people that I am the temporary custodian of these medals, NOT the owner. I did not win these medals; the recipient did. Once I solve the mystery, I move on.
I'm working on a case now involving 2 Heroes of Soviet Labor Medals: One belonged to a woman who lived in Moldova, and the other lived in Abkazia. I want to know their stories and how their medals got here!
So, I consider myself a historian rather than a collector. What I do keeps me out of mischief, keeps me busy, and my mind active. I love solving mysteries. I'm not looking to buy anything. However, if I find something that shows promise of being solveable, I am interested!
Life is for living, learning new things, traveling, making friends and acquaintrences, and most of all, having fun. Collecting brings alot of joy to many people.
