O comme l'Obssession

 Macaron box, 9" x 11'

Do you collect whatever you obsess about?

 Yesterday was press day at the Met so off I went to see the refurbished arms and armor collection initially donated by Dr. Bashford Dean (1867–1928).

 Not necessarily my cup of tea you might think...

 Though very grand indeed.

 It was the obsession factor that grabed me. Bashford's father gave him a book on armor at age 10 and the dye was cast.

 His obsession became life long, though his training was in zoology with a focus on fish. Here Bashford is decked out in Japanese warrior armor acquired during his time in Japan.
FYI: this looked heavy to me but the collection's curator, Donald LaRocca kindly explained, the 50 pounds would be evenly distributed over the body and not at all the hardship one imagines. So feel free to give in to your delusions of knighthood.

 Dr. Dean's helmet collection was displayed thusly at the Met early days. Dean went on to become honorary curator, every summer high-tailing it to Europe by boat  to look for rare finds for the Met (now one of the best armor collections in the US and up there with many European collections thanks to Dean).

 Naturally I was given to think of my own copious collection of Paris macaron cookie boxes...

 And way too many pastry bags gathering dust on the shelf.

Would/could the Met be interested?

 There are still macaron remnents calling out siren-like from the fridge. It's a daily exercise in French delaying skills not to wolf them.

 Paris Macaron boxes, 9" x 11"

The one deterrent that keeps me from eating them, stale as they are since purchase in July of this year is the thought I could use them in a watercolor still life peut-etre?
Why ever does one hang on to these things?

 Admittedly, taking a giant leap of faith, can you imagine your collections.

Gracing the great halls of the Metropolitan Museum like Bashford Dean's?

I can...