My family tends to refer to me as a pack rat. I wanted to confirm a definition and the truly official wikipedia (*sarcasm*) says "The term pack rat is also used in English as slang to refer to a person who collects miscellaneous items and has trouble getting rid of them (a compulsive hoarder)." I never really thought it was that bad, but when you use the terms "compulsive hoarder" it's definitely not good.
I like to keep things primarily for the sake of memories. Some of them are good and some of them not so good, but I'd still like to remember the lesson learned.
Occasionally being a pack rat comes in handy. If I need to know how much I paid for car insurance four years ago, I have it. Or if someone wanted to read the love letter my 4th grade boyfriend wrote me on the back of a snow valley cup, I could provide that for them.
Occasionally being a pack rat brings a good laugh. If someone wants to perform "Always a Hello" the song written for me when I graduated college, I have the sheet music. Or if I want to read the topic paper I wrote for my 7th grade "language arts" class, I can.
Occasionally being a pack rat takes me back to the "good ol' days." If I want to reminisce about friends from QA I have the goods. Or if I wanted to sport my letter jacket with a couple of rec soccer fake gold medals, I could.
Occasionally being a pack rat reminds me of crap. I think I have every letter anyone has written me. I used to keep them all in shoeboxes and I tried to condense them when I created my portfolio as a senior, but they're still everywhere. Some letters fall into the "good ol' days" category, but others keep taking me back to a lot of "what ifs." Ex-boyfriends, ex-friends, people that have passed away... I'm always torn whether I should keep it all or chuck it. I don't want to get stuck in the past, but I do want to remember what I've left behind. I'm still learning lessons... and could always use a reminder... I think.
