Don't let the title of this blog decieve you. I do have a modest Star Wars collection going. I've previously mentioned parts of it in previous blogs. I have dozens of novels and comics. I have about 7 or 8 Star Wars lego models. I have Darth Tater and some of the other Mr. Potato Head figures. My collection sports a few miniature replica light sabers. I have an original Type A movie poster for the original Star Wars signed by most of the cast of the film. In addition to all of that, I have other knick-knacks related to Star Wars that I'm holding on to.

However, I haven't fully dove into expanding my Star Wars collection. I've been asking myself why not for a few months now. One objection: money. It can get expensive to collect Star Wars stuff. However, that can be said of most hobbies and collections. Objection two: space. All that stuff can take up a ton of room. Again, most collections take up space, and I do have an office I could store things in.

So, why don't I take it up again? What is keeping me back? This has been nagging at me for a while.

Then I opened some boxes I had been keeping in storage from a recent move. Mystery solved.

Here is the long explanation: about 15-18 years ago, I went on a small vacation. The location is not important. I wanted a small souvenir, and after spending some time at a gift shop, I settled on a shot glass that had some impressive painting and etching. I wish I had a photo account set up so that I could post a picture of it.

A few months later, I went to the Indianapolis 500. Its a fun event and should you ever get the chance to catch the race in person, you should do so, just once. Again, I wanted a small souvenir (and not a t-shirt or cap), and I found a nice shot glass with a race car engraved in it.

You can probably see where this is going. I started collecting shot glasses from places I travelled or events I attended. I was picky, and I wouldn't settle for poor quality. The collection was truly mine--everything was picked by me. It didn't take up much space, cost very much, or take that much time to maintain.

Then the inevitable happened: I started getting shot glasses as gifts. Word of my collection got out. Every time friends or family went on a trip or vacation, or attended some event, I got a shot glass.

Don't get me wrong, I always appreciated the gesture. That people would think of me on their vacations and trips and think to pick up a gift was truly appreciated.

However, my collection took on a life of its own. I probably had about fifteen shot glasses in my little collection from my own travels when things started. Within two years, my collection was over 100 shot glasses and growing. Then I started getting pilsner glasses, mugs, and other glassware. Over 75% of my collection was gifts from well-meaning friends and family. The overall quality of the collection declined. The amount of space it took up blossomed exponentially.

When I moved into my last house, I packed most of my shot glasses away carefully in boxes. I kept a few out. I kind of let the word get out that my collection was really complete, and then I just stopped adding to it all together. The collection sat in boxes for most of eight years. When I moved to my new house, the boxes went into storage unopened or checked. I had to clean out the storage space a couple of weeks ago and moved all boxes to my garage.

I was cleaning out some space in the garage yesterday and decided to open a few boxes to check the contents. I came upon the collection for the first time in about nine years. Most of the glasses didn't mean anything to me. I couldn't tell you where they were from or who gave them to me. The ones I collected provided some fond memories though.

I'm not the type of collector that has to have everything. I like my collection to be a bit more personal and hand picked. Part of the hobby of collecting, for me, is the time spent in researching and selecting. By keeping my collection small and only really telling a select few about things I'd like to add to it, I've maintained much more control.

I suppose in some ways my little essay (and by "little" I mean long manifesto on collecting) here is contradictory. One thing is for certain, I'm trying to find a local collector or charity that will accept about 80 shot glasses...its slow going so far.

May the Force be with You!