i have a fascination with keys. for me, there's something magical about them. maybe it is because they're used to open doors, or drawers, or chest, or trunks, or diaries, or even clocks. they unlock something and you get to discover what's on the other side of that door or what's inside a box, or how a clock works. it's all the magic of discovery and surprise, methinks.
i never throw away old keys and i never completely surrender my apartment keys. i always had extra copies made and because i paid for them i don't give them to the landlord when i leave. not that i intended to use them, it's just that somehow the keys represent memories, good or bad, of what had transpired in that place i called home for a few years.
sometimes, i even have the absurd habit of buying old keys at antique markets. one time, a lady asked me, "do you mind if i ask you what you'll do with those keys?" when i told her i just want to collect them, she told me about a person who would visit her stall every now and then. he would rummage at all the keys in the basket, murmuring, or as if in prayer. he only bought one key from her ever, but he would still visit her stall and sift through her basket of keys. and there i thought i was weird.
Posting and viewing quickly tonight- but I had to read this one because I'm posting a shot of keys today too! Great minds...! (I think the fellow thought he would find a key he lost in her basket.)
I love keys too and there is a artist who turns old keys into magical pendants. I like them but they don't hold the fascination of holding the key to my first apartment or my grandpas old truck. Like you I never really surrender all the keys. I love the end of the TV show "friends" when Monica goes to leave her key on the counter and they all pull out copies but I know if it were me I'd have others.
I don't collect keys yet I seem to have lots and lots of them.... guess I just never throw them away... I love old keys and would enjoy collecting them..
I love keys too but now, I mostly get those dumb magnetic cards for hotel rooms and there's no fun in collecting those. Nice photo and good back story.
