"My name is 
They are difficult words to say because it's a difficult thing to admit. Not that I have a problem recognizing it or even admitting it to myself, but because most people don't understand when you tell them about your addiction.
Since I started stacking I've been on a mission to rescue as much of the shiny as I can from those dark, forsaken corners of the world where it might be mistreated, neglected, or unappreciated. I have worked to inform others of this great cause of finding stranded silver and giving it a good home. Most of the time, my entreaties fall on deaf ears... or even mocking ears.
Silver isn't valuable
Why would you spend your money on that?
You're just being weird
Is this another one of your schemes?
Did you join a cult?
Ok, so the last one didn't actually happen, but I have heard people express plenty of opinions on buying silver. Most of them aren't positive. So it's difficult to admit that I have a strong desire for more. I get tired of explaining my condition to them. They can't see the symptoms, so they don't believe that Stakitus is real.
- They don't see me shaking when I'm separated from my shiny for too long
- They can't feel the stress when I know there are great pieces at the LCS that aren't in a good home... or might go to a bad home
- They don't understand how my dreams are consumed with nothing but the glitter of my coins, bars, and rounds... and thoughts of ones to come
- They've never found their heart racing as they drove to the local coin store on a rescue mission
- They've never felt the bitter disappointment when you went planning to save so many and realized you didn't have the resources to help them all.
- They don't carry these unseen burdens and hidden scars.
- They don't know
- They can't understand
I had been getting the shakes fairly badly as it had been a while since I visited the silver doctor and got an infusion. My plan was to go today. I had it all mapped out. I had to run a few errands, but the trip was going to end at the coin store. All the money for other things would have been spent, so anything left was mine.
The first errand took longer than expected. The second errand didn't work out. The third errand was a minor success, but again, took longer than expected. Things were looking good on the money front. I was still loaded with enough ammunition to help some silver escape. However, what I hadn't counted on running out of... was time.
I was just about to point the car in the direction of the coin store, when I got the dreaded call.
"We're coming over. We'll be there shortly."
NOOOO!!!!!
My family was coming to visit. They weren't supposed to come until later! They moved up the time on me. I started getting feverish. The world started spinning a bit. I began to quickly do the math in my head.
"It will take only 12 minutes to get to the coin store"
"They can wait outside"
"Their ice cream won't melt in 85 degrees. It has preservatives!"
Fortunately for my family, but unfortunately for me and my would-be new friends, my wife was with me and cooler heads prevailed. She understands my Stakitus, but she also didn't want to upset my family. After calming me down, she convinced me that we should get home before my family arrived.
After the long, tortuous drive, we arrived home. I was still debating in my mind if I could leave on my own and make it back before our visitors. Or I could leave my wife alone with them.... No. That thought sobered me up. I knew there was no way I could leave her along with them. If she drove them off, that's fine. But they might devour her and that was a risk I wasn't prepared to take.
I sadly resigned myself to the fact that no rescue mission would take place and I set about tidying the house a bit more.
After chit-chatting for a while, it was time for dinner and we make some pizzas for them. I was still stinging from the lack of silver, so I drowned my symptoms in crust, fat cheese, and grease. It was delicious! I'm happy to tell you that my plan worked and strangely my symptoms subsided slightly. My appetite for silver is still there, but it has abated somewhat.
I'm not sure if anyone else has thought of this, but thus far, it's looking good that one can numb the pain through eating lots of food. I'm going to have to conduct more experiments to see what else kills the pain, even if only for a while.
I wonder if anyone has ever tried using alcohol...
I nominate 
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