Not-So-Secret Admirer

Have you ever been the object of affection for a secret admirer? Someone who is passionately, intensely, acutely interested in you? Someone who goes to great lengths to be around you, to learn all they can about you, and to surprise you with gifts and trinkets that bring you joy?

I have a confession. I am a not-so-secret admirer.

Would you like to know the object of my affection? You would, wouldn’t you?

I can assure you that my 22-year marriage to James is happy and intact. So, you are free to continue reading without concern.

The object of my affection is ... office supplies!

There isn’t a notebook, post-it note, or decorative folder that I do not have a passionate, intense, or acute interest in. If I have some time to kill while I'm out and about, I thoroughly enjoy browsing the aisles of a Staples or Office Max. So many glorious items to look at and touch and dream about using!  

When I discover some amazing new product, I cannot wait to tell everyone I know about this great find!

The fact that I am a Premier Rewards member at Staples and the fact that they know me by name at my local Staples does give away my affinity for office supplies, I suppose. 

When I discover some amazing new product ... like the Sharpie Pen or graph paper Post-It Notes or Arc customizable notebooks ... I cannot wait to tell everyone I know about these great finds. I pin them on my Pinterest boards and chat about them on my Facebook page and I buy them as gifts for friends and family members who enjoy office supplies as much as I do.

One year I sent my mom a Christmas gift that had her friends in shock and left them rather bewildered. I sent her a GIANT box full of office supplies. Her friends wondered if it was a joke because surely no one would enjoy getting office supplies for Christmas. But you see I come by my obsession honestly. I inherited it from my mother! And she still talks about how great that gift was.

When she came to live with us in 2006, my mom brought all of her office supplies with her. We could honestly meet just about any office supply need with our combined stash. As a matter of fact, my husband doesn’t think we need to buy office supplies again ... ever! He doesn’t understand why I might want another beautiful notebook or Sharpie Pen to add to my collection. But I can still look when I don't truly have need of a new pen or package of labels or index tab dividers, and browsing really does bring me almost as much joy as buying ... almost.

There. Now you know. I have a wonderful, joy-filled relationship with these delightful organizational tools!

Is there some product or tool that brings you joy and makes your life easier?

Comments

[Amie]

Hi Nancy,

I completely understand your admiration for office supplies, there is just something about them that draws me. I have been the happy reciepient of one or two of your office supply gift packages and I keep one of them unused just so I can look at them :) They bring me joy and brings back memories of you :)

I was recently off work due to strep and when I returned to work there on my desk was a card and a glorious package of sharpie pen's. I was so happy!!! People who know me know I have a love for office supplies. They also know to "step away from my pens!" :)
Love and fond memories,
Amie