The stuff I've collected over the years in my little box/bureau drawer/keepsake chest marks every step of my way.

Back when I was eleven I asked my then uncle Jimmy if he would build me a safety deposit box. Jimmy being a welder and general wizard with metals looked at me quizzical and asked the obvious question 'Why' when an eleven year old boy asked you to make such a thing. My response? 'Oh I don't know. It just seems like a good idea.'

Thus my then Uncle Jimmy crafted for me a rather sturdy, as well as big, lock box. Since then I've kept it close by my bed side, covering it with Ninja Turtle stickers from the first live action movie and generally keeping it 'safe' and 'in sight'. Over the years I've put some weird odds and ends: Valentines from grade school, (don't ask me why, I just kept them) letters from old friends and ex girl friends as well as some assorted pictures. I consider this to be one of my most private places where I keep a lot of good and bad memories. I also have several of my first hand written stories in there I think, I'm not sure though as my dear metal box is currently resting next to my bed at my father's house.

Though if I did still have my little box still in my possession I think I might add a few other things I've collected over the years, at least some of the things that could fit anyway. I've taken to collecting Sake (Japanese rice wine) sets over the years, just a few here and there that I have on display throughout my apartment, I'd more than likely but a few of the more rare ones in there for safe keeping. I think I would also place some of my favorite books within it's walls, books like The Giver or Battle for the Fang. Random choices but things I think worthy of saving or not being damage. There are also a few more pictures I might like to add of new friends that I've met along the way...in a way my safety deposit box is where I store some of my most memorable moments.