Project 365: Day 181 — Of clocks, watches and eccentric excesses

I am visiting my parents after almost two weeks and things have both changed and not really changed.

My family, especially, my father and his father have had a thing for collecting timepieces. My grandfather had a thing for watches — he had at least 5 of them, of which he used only 2. My father, on the other hand, goes around collecting clocks. The picture I’ve added is the latest addition to our hall.

If it wasn’t a home, my parents may well have hosted a House of Tick Tocks.

We have a thing for excesses, my family and I. I hoard most of my clothes (including the ones that no longer fit me) and all of my books. I’ve resolved to give away a few clothes and donate a couple of books to the local library this weekend. We’ll see just how much of my energies that manages to sap.

My father, aside from clocks, hoards showpieces, multiple numbers of the same collectible at times; we have the Air India Maharajas for example, an iconic collectible that very few can claim to possess, we have about 3–4 of them. At one point, thanks to the original collector, my grandfather, we had about 9 of them. They are rather red, shiny and beautiful, I must say.

Ditto with crockery, cutlery and utensils, some unused from 30 years ago, received at the time of my parents’ wedding (side note: what people were playing at gifting pressure cooker and saucepans as wedding gifts is beyond me, 80s thing probably).

My mother claims she will give me half of those, something I dread, at my wedding. Talk about tradition.

Jokes aside, in my parents, I see a sense of sentimentality that only age can bring. My dad holds on to the crockery his dad collected because it was his legacy (in whatever odd, convoluted way that may be).

My mother holds on to her history books collection (even though they’re historically inaccurate in some places), because it reminds her of her own mother’s hoarding.

As much as I don’t want to turn into any version of my parents, I know I will be a hoarder. It’s something I’ve inherited and can’t shake off. Family teaches you funny things even if they’re qualities you may not want to imbibe. They come to you naturally.

Maybe mine will have this to laugh at their mother about too. There may be no guarantee of them being able to see their grandparents but at least they’ll inherit the bad-good habits. I’ll take that over culturally bankrupt kids.

I think hoarding is often less materialism and more holding on to memories. Because if not for our legacy, what else will we pass on to our kids?