Well said, Richard. Each of us is merely the latest caretaker of the artifacts that make up the collections we hold, and it makes sense to me to want to make sure that the pieces that I have cherished for so long are moved forward into the hands of newer collectors who will maintain and respect them the way I did in my time. And given the uncertainty of how the disposition of such collections will be managed by those whose responsibility it will be to either give the pieces to museums or sell them off, it seems to make good sense for a conscientious collector to do that hard work himself, while he can make sure it's properly handled.
Of course, the worst possible outcome would be for a surviving family member or loved one -- someone who had had no respect for our collections during our lives and who had no knowledge of the values these things hold, or how best to treat them -- winding up disposing of our collections by either giving them away to other relatives with no interest in the hobby or by throwing them into the trash in order to get out from under the responsibility of dealing with 'all this Nazi garbage...'
Though I had not been in touch with John Pepera personally for the last few months of his life, I had heard from others that his health was failing for some time prior to his death. If he was aware that this was the way it would be going for him, in the short run (we all know that it's our lot in the long run), then perhaps he took advantage of the time left to him to make sure that his beloved collections would be cared for after his death the way they were during his lifetime.
This is a subject that none of us wants to think about in terms of future living without our prized collections surrounding us. We have worked so hard to amass these pieces of historic life that we don't choose to part with them, ever... Yet we know we must. I think it would be worse to finally achieve that dream that many of us have, namely to die in our sleep, at peace with all in the world, while we have held onto our collections right up to the end. While this removes the 'burden' of disposing of our trophies ourselves, against our will, it also virtually assures that our relics will never be dealt with in the same caring fashion with which we held them for our lifetimes.
Just some thoughts on eventualities...!
Br. James
Of course, the worst possible outcome would be for a surviving family member or loved one -- someone who had had no respect for our collections during our lives and who had no knowledge of the values these things hold, or how best to treat them -- winding up disposing of our collections by either giving them away to other relatives with no interest in the hobby or by throwing them into the trash in order to get out from under the responsibility of dealing with 'all this Nazi garbage...'
Though I had not been in touch with John Pepera personally for the last few months of his life, I had heard from others that his health was failing for some time prior to his death. If he was aware that this was the way it would be going for him, in the short run (we all know that it's our lot in the long run), then perhaps he took advantage of the time left to him to make sure that his beloved collections would be cared for after his death the way they were during his lifetime.
This is a subject that none of us wants to think about in terms of future living without our prized collections surrounding us. We have worked so hard to amass these pieces of historic life that we don't choose to part with them, ever... Yet we know we must. I think it would be worse to finally achieve that dream that many of us have, namely to die in our sleep, at peace with all in the world, while we have held onto our collections right up to the end. While this removes the 'burden' of disposing of our trophies ourselves, against our will, it also virtually assures that our relics will never be dealt with in the same caring fashion with which we held them for our lifetimes.
Just some thoughts on eventualities...!
Br. James
Save your pennies guys.....
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