Casual browsing in between my work took me to a blog with a picture of a matchbox. It didn’t take much time for me to relate with similar image of matchbox which had an bigger place in my teens.

Match box like these are hardly seen around; now it’s the new age cousins that rule the aisles of department store – for they come in with more glossier packaging and price. But for me, the old matches still holds an uncanny charm and more so b’cos, I had a fancy of collecting the match box labels.

It was in my school days that I carried on this unique collection of matchbox labels. Every time I’m asked to buy a matchbox, I prayed that I got a unique label. The most common brands I can recollect of was “ “We two”, “Key”. It was a usual practice to buy a bigger unit, a box containing 12 small matchbox. With steady purchase, my collection steady increased in its count, probably around 40 or more label. All the collection was securely kept inside some cover. I remember on how I took care to peal off the cover and at times I had to put it in water for the glue to release its hold.

Now as I look back, I fail to uncover on what prompted me to collect those unique labels. Wonder if any kids now has similar fancy or if any one in those black and white years can remember of similar tastes..

Time has rolled and I lost track of the collection and my collection. Simple facets of life have given to more complex covering and packaging. Life is no more the same, tainted by the passing years and hobbies are changed and expectations are running high. But all through, it is those simple desires that strikes so bright in my memory