| Subject : The Stamp Author : Bennie Date : 7/5/2002 3:13:06 AM |
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| As a young boy I was excited about being a stamp collector. I collected sheets, rolls, first-day issues and books. I saved my pennies and nickels just to buy the next stamp. I was especially fond of the airmail, animals and space postage. The artwork was and still is a thing of beauty to me. You could always find me 5 blocks away from my house in Savannah Ga. on Habersham Street at the Eagle Shoe Shop, buying and trading from the sweet old gentleman that ran the store. I feel horrible for forgetting his name. I was his little regular, sometimes waiting for him to open the store. When I was shy a couple of pennies, he’d let it slide until the next time. He knew I’d be back with my scribbled ledger paying off the balance. I suppose my honesty kept him generous to a little boy. Thinking back, he didn’t make much money, as hardly anyone would ever wonder into his business. It smelled of dust, mold and old leather. As he fumbled for the keys I quietly and anxiously waited for him to slide back the glass window. What would be my next prize possession? The only things in the display case that didn’t have dust on it were the books of stamps he would pull out for me to gaze through. Everything else had a thick film on all his wares. It was so dusty you could hardly detail the name KIWI on the metal lid of polish. He made a big deal of presenting the gargantuan book of stamps every time he reached into the case. It was though he was bringing out the Dead Sea Scrolls or something. That book impressed me more than 100 Sears catalogs put together. The empty shop echoed as I pulled a heavy wooden saddle chair across the dirty checkered tile. I stood up and leaned on the cold glass counter and began my Saturday morning ritual that would last for hours on end. Thank you sweet old man. I remember your face and your kindness but not your name. Bennie |
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| Subject : The Stamp Author : Fidessa Date : 7/5/2002 7:51:24 AM |
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| Oh my god, that is so sweet! | |
| Subject : The Stamp Author : NicoleDate : 7/5/2002 10:07:10 AM |
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| What a lovely tale! :-) | |
| Subject : The Stamp Author : Bennie Date : 7/5/2002 11:12:00 AM |
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| Thanks Fidessa. :) Actualy, I had no idea that I was going to write that. It all started when I saw a US Postal Service commercial last night. I was ticked that postage jumped to .37cents. All of a sudden I rememberd a piece of my childhood. Thanks for the kind words. | |
| Subject : The Stamp Author : Bennie Date : 7/5/2002 11:25:41 AM |
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| Hey Nicole. Thanks for the smiley. In some ways it's like that lovely piece you wrote "The Choice" I know not where exactly my future will take me ..... (in my case it was my past). | |
| Subject : The Stamp Author : LorraineDate : 7/5/2002 1:47:59 PM |
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| Very nice. You allowed us to go back with you to your childhood as you wrote your sweet memory. | |