Packrats of the World Unite!

My birthday rose bouquet from my son and daughter-in-law finally withered. I consigned the roses to the compost tumbler, and thriftily coiled the ribbon to reuse someday.

I grew up in a house with an attic and a cellar and a mother who hoarded all manner of bits and pieces that might come in handy someday.

For example, for several years she saved the pressed purple mats that used to come in betwen layers of oranges.

I directed a production of Giraudoux's "The Madwoman of Chaillot". The pressed purple mats, stapled on the fronts of platforms, streaked with a little gray and sprinkled with a little glitter made an elegant Parisian basement set.

The metal handles from Chinese restaurant takeout containers have a multitude of uses.

Do you hoard oddiments? Empty boxes? Empty metal canisters? Bits of ribbon? Old upholstery samples? Useful nuts and bolts?

If so, do you use them? If not, why not?