Some people are born to collect, other people have collections thrust upon them.

Take my teacup collection, for instance. The same week I inherited my Grandma's teacup collection, I received three more from two other sources...neither source knowing about each other or about the inheritance. Suddenly, I'm a teacup collector.

And then there's the Czechoslovakian ruby-cut-to-clear glass collection that started out innocently enough with a vase someone gave me for Christmas. Perhaps I expressed my gratitude too strongly, because ruby-cut-to-clear glass subsequently showed up at the next five gift-giving occasions as other family and friends got into the act. Somehow I've become a glass collector without consciously intending to.

Same goes for the antenna-ball collection. An overzealous gas-station employee gave me one, then I was given one from a competing station at a baseball game, and now somehow I have a drawerful. I'm convinced it's kind of a spontaneous generation type thing.

The only thing I've really *intended* to collect is fabric for my quilting hobby. But I don't think that really counts as a collection, per se, any more than saying a painter "collects" oil paint--they're meant to be used towards a purpose, not to be set apart and admired for their own sake, if you know what I mean.

koala"most valuable collection?--my friends" mom