Reviews from

What Did You Call Me?

I like collecting certain postage stamps

30 total reviews 
Comment from lyenochka
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Well, I'm a philatelist, too, Tom. Not really serious but I have a few but I don't take time to admire mine. Decades ago, a workmate taught me which part of a sheet of stamps to save. But mostly, I liked the international ones. Thanks for sharing and I enjoyed your humor about the word. It's weird, isn't? Now if you collect postcards, you're a deltiologist.

 Comment Written 04-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 04-Apr-2024
    Hello Helen,
    I always but the full sheets. On some designs, like the classic cars and the Star Wars robots, I think you almost need the whole sheet. It was that way on the Barnum and Baily Circus posters too. They are some of my favorite- well, who am I kidding, they're all my favorite. You are always such a wealth of information gal. I didn't know that about post cards. I have a number of international stamps that have been salvaged from letters. Lots of stuff from Ireland and Norway, and a fellow who used to teach shop down in Hoonah was clearing out his stuff and is giving me his collection from when he was a kid. Holy cats, I'm going to be stamp wealthy! Thanks so much for the great review gal, I always love to hear from you.
    Have a blessed day.
    Tom
Comment from Ginda Simpson
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They really are miniature pieces of art and it would be tempting to collect them. I feel the same way about how artistic coins are. But I have never collected either. I enjoyed your story.

 Comment Written 03-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
    Hello Ginda,
    thanks so much for the great review gal. I just love the diverse subject matters and the colors. My oldest daughter bought me a group of stamps that were printed in the year of my birthday, 1952. It's so interesting to see what was happening in that time period.
    Have a blessed day gal.
    Tom
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
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We have little boxes of stamps from Germany between the big wars as my great uncle wrote to his family still in Germany and my dad collected stamps all his life and my husband and I add to the boxes. I remember Dad took one sheet of about fifteen stamps and sold them so he could buy a car. I still can't get interested in doing something with all the stamps in their boxes. I enjoyed reading your article and finding out someone else shares my problem about all those stamps.

 Comment Written 02-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 02-Apr-2024
    I don't look at the stamps very often, but when I do, I really enjoy the diverse subjects and colors that are used. Each one is like a little work of art. If you don't want them anymore, you could probably take them to a hobby store and see if they have value and sell them. Thanks for the great review gal.
    Have a blessed evening.
    Tom
Comment from Wayne Fowler
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Probably due to their abundance, but I don't know for sure, postage stamp collections have not appreciated. I retired as a Postmaster. I suppose, if a collection is masterfully and artfully presented, and an interested buyer is found, they might pay you more than face value, but it is doubtful. (sorry)
My mother-in-law asked about a collection of her deceased husband's stamps (that sound a lot like yours). I told her to lick 'em and stick 'em. At least she'll never have to buy another stamp.
Best wishes.

 Comment Written 02-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 02-Apr-2024
    Hi Wayne,
    thanks for the informative review. I wouldn't want to sell them or use them I don't think. I love to look at them from time to time. Who knows, if mailing letters becomes a thing of the past, they could be worth something. I imagine I won't be around to see it though.
    Have a blessed evening.
    Tom
Comment from Jim Wile
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I enjoy your writing so, Tom. What a cool, albeit reluctant hobby. Round stamps, huh? Can't say as I've ever seen one, but I will keep my eyes peeled from now on.

Amazing the kinds of things people collect. My sister-in-law collects spoons. My older brother collected comic books for years. My wife and I collected Hummels of older girls and younger boys together since they represented our two kids. I collected the names of every golf course I ever played in a spreadsheet organized by country and state. I guess our FanStory portfolios are a collection of our posted works. Collections may not always have much value to others, but they provide us with entertainment.

 Comment Written 02-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 02-Apr-2024
    Hello Jim,
    thanks so much for the wonderful review. When I was young I collected comic books, or more accurately, I just didn't get rid of the ones I had. They never went out of style, and on long rainy days, they were a source of entertainment. At the time I bought them for 12 cents each. Lord, wouldn't I love to have them now! I gave them to my younger brother, not having the foresight nor the means to hang on to them for future profit. Oh well, woulda, shoulda, coulda.
    Have a blessed day.
    Tom
Comment from Brett Matthew West
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"I'm fairly old fashioned, and I don't adjust to change very well." Unless you are admitting you are an alcohol beverage known as an Old Fashioned, your "old fashioned" should be the single word old-fashioned. However, this stated sentiment of yours describes moi to a tee.

There was a period when I collected unique stamps, not to mail them away on outgoing mail but fot my own possession.

"philatelist" appears to depict your stamp collecting habits spot on.

"E Bay" should be eBay.

The money one could spend on collecting stamps most certainly could "put you in the poor house."

 Comment Written 02-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 02-Apr-2024
    Hello Brett,
    thanks so much for the great review and the corrections. I fixed them, thanks. Yes, it doesn't take long to get a fair amount of money invested in almost any collection. When I was a kid, I lived down the street from the only sporting goods store in town. It was located right across the street from the high school, so of course they had tons of students coming by after school for snacks. The owner, Mac, used to take the pop bottle caps that had collected in a bin in the pop machine and dump them outside behind his store. He didn't even bother to put them in the trash. I was fascinated by all the brands and various colors, and for awhile I collected them. Unfortunately, I had no self discipline, and in time I just let them go by the wayside. Its too bad though, they might be worth something now. Have a blessed day.
    Tom
Comment from estory
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I thought this was a charming little essay that captures this sense of a personality that you express through these stamps. The unusual stamps that stand out from the cookie cutter American flags seem to articulate your personality, and I like how you connect them to the unknown people sorting through the envelopes in the back offices of the banks and credit card companies. There's this sense of tenuous connections through these simple often overlooked stamps that makes the story stand out. estory

 Comment Written 02-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 02-Apr-2024
    Hello estory,
    thanks so much for the delightful review. While I'm by nature a little bit shy, for some unknown reason, I guess there is a part of me that desires to be noticed, thus the stamps that stand out. I suppose it's a small thing, but if we can make a difference in another person's life, assuming that they even notice, why not do it?
    Have a blessed day.
    Tom
Comment from barbara.wilkey
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I'm not a stamp collector, but I do have a scene from Ezra Jack Keats children's book, 'A Snowy Day.' My first graders loved that story when I'd read it to them. I keep those stamps back. LOL Thank you for sharing.

I still like to pay my bills with a check, (me too!!!)

 Comment Written 01-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 01-Apr-2024
    Hello Barbara,
    I suppose eventually the powers that be will make it so we can't pay our bills with a check. The government seems to want to have complete control over our lives, though they are totally incompetent and unable to control things like the border, which impacts all of us. I think they're already pushing for a cashless society, which I'm fighting tooth and nail. Thanks so much for the great review gal.
    Have a blessed evening.
    Tom
reply by barbara.wilkey on 02-Apr-2024
    I'm fighting it tooth and nail too. Talk about the border issue. I live in Texas.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2024
    Yes, I know you do. I fear I would be on edge every day there, more so than I am in Alaska. Please stay safe gal.
Comment from tfawcus
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Fascinating! I had to laugh at your description of the word itself. You are right, it does sound rather obscene. I too was a collector of stamps and have a drawer full of them which includes a dog-eared album from my school days. Nothing fancy, but I too was seduced by bright colours and the romance of foreign shores.

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello tfawcus,
    yes, it sounds too much like phallic or some such thing. I was taken back when my friend called me that. I'm a real sucker for color. That's part of why I love stamps so much. I was a commercial fisherman for 45 years and collected quite an assortment of plastic octopus (called hoochies) as well as trolling spoons. They didn't all catch fish, but they caught fishermen. Thanks so much for the great review.
    Happy Easter!
    Tom
Comment from LateBloomer
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Hi Tom, this is such a great story. Who knows if your children will want the stamps or not, but chances are, they will because collecting them was something that you enjoyed doing. Over the years, I have only kept/collected stamps from overseas countries.

As far as being old-fashioned, I say that you are a traditionalist. I, too, like paying my bills by check and putting them in the U.S. mail. Some people don't trust the mail, but I don't trust computers.

Perfect photo collage. Well done. This is a story that many can relate to. Have I told you that I think my husband is your twin brother from another mother? He too doesn't adjust to change very well. Lol, but true. Have a great day. Happy Easter. Margaret

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Margaret,
    thanks so much for the delightful review gal. I absolutely don't trust the internet. I've had issues with the post office in the past, but I still would prefer to use them. I fear that one day we won't have any choice. I hope your Easter has been wonderful.
    Blessings,
    Tom
reply by LateBloomer on 31-Mar-2024
    Agree ... I fear that one day we won't have any choice. M