Insignificant Items

Many of you who would read this might find it funny or maybe even weird at the start. It has been a habit for me to keep what others might consider insignificant or trash items. I know my father too used to keep things like them but only those usable and still in good shape. For me, I keep even those broken hard plastics of any shape, size and form. The same thing with metal and aluminum objects like screws (sometimes rusted or worn head), straightened nails, twisted hinges, bottle caps, wires, switches, male/female connectors, clips, springs, fasteners, PC frames, etcetera. I can't also understand myself why, when most people would consign those to trash. Would you believe even old unused ruled paper, bond paper and writing pads? Some have even browned slightly on their edges. Empty ballpoint, gel, marking and pens! Even the short stubs of pencil do not escape to oblivion, not to mention empty containers and plastic cards, so with ceramic cups or mugs with broken handles.

The only way I can explain this is my being a Mr. Fix or Remedy-it-All. I have a knack of putting so many broken things back in order by using some of those things I “treasure”. Many could have used plastic cards to open locked doors when the keys are misplaced. I have constructed or reconstructed so many things with those “spare parts”. My brother’s car once had a problem opening from the outside with the door handle. Knowing it was worn out internally, I cut a strip of galvanized sheet and wrapped around the lever that unlatches the door. That was 8 years ago and still works until now. I also did a similar thing to the door knob of my children’s room. It simply turns from the inside of the room without opening the door. I found out that the channel that pulls the latch bolt was worn out and had broken off. With a stainless steel half-pipe, closely fitting on the door knob “axle”, I used a hacksaw and file to shape it identical to what was broken. That was 4 years ago and still works until now.

There are some friends and relatives who come to me sometimes to ask if I've got anything that could make some things they have, work again. After taking a careful look on what the thing needs to work again, I would know if a plastic piece will do or something metal is required. If they could do it themselves, I just give them the part. Most of the time, however, I need to do it for them. That's for free and no charge at all. It's a pleasure enough for me that they recognize and acknowledge that I am the person they could come to when it comes to those things. In writing, maybe I also construct it from insignificant things that I keep in my mind. Funny, isn't it?