Shortly after the mention in Leg Show magazine, I received a snail-mail request for the print brochure from a guy in Minnesota. In his note he casually mentioned that he has a large panty collection of his own — around six thousand, he said.
"S-S-S-SIX THOUSAND!!", I stuttered when I read that. You gotta be kidding me!
Some of you who have known me for a long time have my telephone number and you know that it takes a while to build up trust for me to give my number out — I don't give it to just anyone. But I was willing to make an exception in this case. I said if you'd like to chat about your collection, give me a call.
About two weeks went by, and I got a call from him. Now, I'm no psychologist, but I've got a fair amount of skill at telling when I'm being BS'd, and I'm convinced that Dwight is on the level.
He said that he has around 6,000 pairs of panties, maybe 2,000 bras, hundreds of garter belts, hose, slips and shoes. Dumbfounded, I asked whether he was married, and if so, is his wife aware of his hobby? Yes, he replied, he is married, and no, she doesn't know a thing about it.
I'm still just awestruck by the sheer number of panties in his stash, so I mumble and stutter again — well how can you keep a collection that large safe from her notice???
Turns out that they own a cabin in the woods, not too many miles from their home, but far enough that they don't get up there very often, and anyway she seldom wants to go. There's a small cave down by the creek, and as it's very isolated, he's sure that there's zero chance that anyone will ever happen upon it. He has acquired some large plastic barrels which are capable of being hermetically sealed, so that there's little chance of moisture or mildew damage. (I don't know how he gets them down there, but if anyone ever asks, you can tell them that a fifty-five gallon plastic barrel full of panties weighs between 150-200 lbs.)
He also has — are you sitting down? — a video camera. That's right — he has documented EVERY garment in his collection, on video! He offered to send me a copy of one of his tapes for my own amazement. I readily accepted!
Two more weeks go by, and he calls to tell me that he has put the tape in the mail for me. By this time I'm really curious about him so I want to ask him some pointed questions, but before I can, he allows he's made a mistake in his estimate. The revised count: seven thousand, five hundred pair of panties. (I've run out of exclamation marks… for now.)
He is a retired baker, around 65 years old. Given all I know about the concept of Panty Fetish, I want to know if he's ever told anyone about his secret. He says he's been collecting panties since his late teens, and he's NEVER SPOKEN TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING about it. I am honored by his trust.
Despite the fact that I'm the first to ever hear of his passion, I can tell by the matter-of-fact way he talks about it that he has no shame, no guilt, no hang-ups about his love of panties. There is no evidence of fear.
He says Bill, I don't drink, gamble or chase women and the only vice I have is I smoke a few cigarettes. I'm as honest as the day is long, and I've never stolen anything in my entire life. The other day I'm at a shopping center in the neighborhood, and I happen to park near the semi-trailer for the charity thrift-shop donation drop-off. There's a very, very large black plastic garbage-bag-like thing laying on the ground nearby. My curiosity is aroused, so I rip a small hole in it and discover that it is FULL of panties. In a flash, it's in the bed of my pick-up and I'm outa there! [Well, what would YOU do?!?!] Time was short (Mama was due home from work shortly), so we didn't have the time to talk more about the bag, but I'll try to get a report from him. (Must have been one of us in our early stages, going through one of our periodic purges, before we come to terms with our obsession.)
His tastes are eclectic — every imaginable style, color and fabric is in his collection. He doesn't just stick to briefs (no pun intended), like some of us die-hards. I gotta tell you, the tape was one of the most boring things I've ever seen. (No offense, Dwight.) He has a mannequin torso, and he puts each panty, or bra & panty set on it and does a formula zoom and pan, and this goes on for the full six hour tape. And he has dozens of tapes. NOW I'm out of exclamation marks
But, see, this brings up a serious problem. He's in the twilight of his life, and you gotta wonder what's going to happen to his collection when he dies. He says he really doesn't care if anyone in the family finds it when he's gone. His pholosophy is: He's dead — what does he care?
I think often of the extensive and exquisite collection of our good friend Dan of LA, whose collection dwarfs mine, and I thought I had a lot. Then there's Woody, who has quite a few, and the Panty Professor (you haven't met him yet), who rents a storage locker in Albuquerque just to hold his stash and keep it private. What's going to happen to our treasures when we go? Will they end up being sold sight-unseen at auction when they break open the locker for non-payment of rent? Will our wives somehow find them and throw them out in disgust? I've got some panties which are so exquisite that I wouldn't take $1,000 for them, and I'd hate to see them go to waste. Someone should have the opportunity to enjoy them.
I'm not exactly clear on the details or the origin, but I seem to remember some kind of association, maybe Italian, called a Tontine, where all the members pool their assets, and the last one alive — wins. Maybe we could form some kind of society like this, only where when a member dies, his collection would go to the group for its historical and esthetic value. Say, just for an example, that Woody's stash is in a storage locker in the next 'burb over and that he puts me (or you, or some trusted member of the panty fraternity) on the access list to the space. Then, when we get wind of his passing we just go there and recover it. Maybe it goes to the Panty Museum. I don't know. But something like this needs to be done. I know, I know, who do you trust? We'd have to work it out.
At 02:17 PM 8/13/98, Fet wrote:
I just happened to read with interest the story about the gentleman in
Minnesota who had such a large panty collection.
All this time I thought I must have the largest panty collection ever. I have also been a collector of panties for years and although I haven't counted recently, the last time I did I had over three thousand. I think right now I am somewhere around the forty-five hundred mark.
What struck me was that he discovered a plastic bag full of panties, and that is how I keep mine. I am not married (although I was when I started collecting them), so that is how I have my panty collection stored. Most of them are stored in a storage area I rent along with other personal items (not panty related), but others are in plastic bags in my basement.
My dilema at this point is also, what am I going to do with all these panties. I DO care that no one finds out about my little "secret", so I have to find a way to dispose of them sometime in the near future. Not that I am all that old yet, but with so many panties to unload, I should start thinking now about ways to "lighten up".
I just thought I would share this with you, as you should know there is at least one other great lover and collector of panties out here.
Dear Fet—
Thanks for sharing. Here's one idea: send 'em to me! :-)
Seriously, don't EVER entertain the idea of throwing them away!!!!
I'll arrange to pay for the shipping costs, if necessary!
I'm still trying to flesh out this idea of a "Panty Museum"...
From: hippi
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 08:01:59 EST
To: biltrlok@llapa.com
Subject: Lingerie Organization:
Dear Bill, I want to thank you for your response and tell you where it all began. Back in 1970-71 I moved to California and one of the 1st people I met was Laura. She was a wonderful girl, not attractive but a great body and an incredible collection of lingerie. Back then pantyhose were just becoming popular but Laura still wore girdles. Long ones, short ones, with flowers and all lace ones and in different colors. Also, lace bras and dozens of gorgeous panties and briefs of all descriptions and a large variety of very pretty 1/2 slips. We lived in a large house w/ 3 other people and I got to see her, all the time, in her underwear. I haven't stopped thinking about Laura since! Today, over the years I have collected, 5, almost 6 king-sized pillow cases filled with women's underwear. Almost all of this collection contains older styles of everything imaginable. I, periodically, go thru these bags and discard items that are just too old, funky or have lost their appeal. When time permits and I am alone I wash and dry items so they smell good. I have had several long-term relationships where I shared my fetish with them but not to the extent it exists! My present significant other is well aware and indulges me on occasion. However, I do keep most bags hidden away in closets, etc. I don't share this obsession with friends so this is a wonderful "outlet". I am new to the computer and it didn't take long to find this site!! I still venture out , regularly, to garage sales, flea markets & thrift stores to make new purchases. I also check the dept. stores to look at the newest. I have so much lingerie I don't know what to do with it all. Occasionally, I bring a bag, w/ some other items, to a local thrift store; sometimes I just throw some items out! If you have any ideas or suggestions I would love to hear them. I am a special ed teacher, no children and in a great relationship but this is my real *obsession* . Hope to hear from you soon.
peace/love
hippi