I love your passion for postage. My only postage interests were in the love letters my paternal grandparents wrote to other in rural Louisiana in the early 20th century. While they were engaged they were only about 30-35 miles apart as my grandfather was working on a farm. He had little chance to return during the season as transportation was by horse or mule drawn wagon.
I don't think there are any questions concerning the postage, but the contents have always puzzled my sister and me. Both of them were white but they frequently ended with a racial slur as an endearment. I've searched for years to try and find out if that was common among poor whites in the south.
The other thing that interested me was that your team of choice is the Cincinnati Reds. Living in Kentucky my father-in-law was too. We both watched them on TV and once, after my wife and I moved to Indianapolis we met them in St. Louis for a weekend trio of games. I had some fondness for St. Louis because my parents were married there and Dad was a St. Louis fan.
At that particular series we stayed in the same hotel as the Reds. Johnny Bench had been my favorite player up until Saturday morning as the team was leaving to board the busses for the stadium. They had to pass through two dozen kids wanting autographs. Some of the others stopped but Bench literally kept his eyes toward the ceiling and walked by them. I never felt the same about him.
The last game was on Sunday night so we spent another night in the hotel and ate breakfast in the hotel. The Phillies had arrived the previous night and were having breakfast, too. Our table was right next to four Philly players but only one I recognized---Tim McCarver who had previously been with the Cardinals. He, too, was a favorite player. And, just as always McCarver's jokes to his teammates had them laughing and my father-in-law and I at the next table were laughing, too.
I haven't been following you long, but what I most admire is your passion for a not so popular hobby. But then I knew a guy who liked to collect the pin insulators for electric lines from decades ago. I thought he was crazy until I discovered some were worth as much as $1000 depending on size and coloring.
Kent, Glad you were able to take some trips down memory lane with this one! I've long known that if I were to meet some (maybe most?) of the players I enjoyed I might be less inclined to like them. It's clear to me that my priorities differ greatly than theirs. But that's not a surprise given widely different life paths.
You mention the contents of your grandparents letters and make an observation that provides an excellent learning point for all of us. We can't take everything at face value. There are different word uses and veiled references that we're going to miss. Often, when I'm reading old letters, I end up not being able to even figure out what a word is because it is either a name or it's a colloquialism or inside joke I am not privy to.
Thanks for reading and sharing. Comments like yours keep me going!
I love your passion for postage. My only postage interests were in the love letters my paternal grandparents wrote to other in rural Louisiana in the early 20th century. While they were engaged they were only about 30-35 miles apart as my grandfather was working on a farm. He had little chance to return during the season as transportation was by horse or mule drawn wagon.
I don't think there are any questions concerning the postage, but the contents have always puzzled my sister and me. Both of them were white but they frequently ended with a racial slur as an endearment. I've searched for years to try and find out if that was common among poor whites in the south.
The other thing that interested me was that your team of choice is the Cincinnati Reds. Living in Kentucky my father-in-law was too. We both watched them on TV and once, after my wife and I moved to Indianapolis we met them in St. Louis for a weekend trio of games. I had some fondness for St. Louis because my parents were married there and Dad was a St. Louis fan.
At that particular series we stayed in the same hotel as the Reds. Johnny Bench had been my favorite player up until Saturday morning as the team was leaving to board the busses for the stadium. They had to pass through two dozen kids wanting autographs. Some of the others stopped but Bench literally kept his eyes toward the ceiling and walked by them. I never felt the same about him.
The last game was on Sunday night so we spent another night in the hotel and ate breakfast in the hotel. The Phillies had arrived the previous night and were having breakfast, too. Our table was right next to four Philly players but only one I recognized---Tim McCarver who had previously been with the Cardinals. He, too, was a favorite player. And, just as always McCarver's jokes to his teammates had them laughing and my father-in-law and I at the next table were laughing, too.
I haven't been following you long, but what I most admire is your passion for a not so popular hobby. But then I knew a guy who liked to collect the pin insulators for electric lines from decades ago. I thought he was crazy until I discovered some were worth as much as $1000 depending on size and coloring.
Thanks for the memories.
Kent, Glad you were able to take some trips down memory lane with this one! I've long known that if I were to meet some (maybe most?) of the players I enjoyed I might be less inclined to like them. It's clear to me that my priorities differ greatly than theirs. But that's not a surprise given widely different life paths.
You mention the contents of your grandparents letters and make an observation that provides an excellent learning point for all of us. We can't take everything at face value. There are different word uses and veiled references that we're going to miss. Often, when I'm reading old letters, I end up not being able to even figure out what a word is because it is either a name or it's a colloquialism or inside joke I am not privy to.
Thanks for reading and sharing. Comments like yours keep me going!
Rob