Stamp collection

Back in the day, August 20, 1992, I started a stamp collection. The only reason I know the exact date is because I wrote it down. I had finally bought an album, or probably my Mom did, and put all of my stamps I had in it.

On that day in August, I had 1649 stamps in my collection. What drew me to stamp collecting was how different each stamp was. There were flags, dogs, horses, people and sports. Stamps had everything. I started collecting stamps off envelopes addressed to my parents. They had a lot of mail, so I cut the stamps off all of their received mail. The other way I collected my stamps was from a stamp company. Every now and again, this company ran ads in the Sunday coupons. Even though you aren't supposed to send money through the mail I did. I didn't have a checkbook at the age of 13 and I didn't want to bother my Mom for a check. So I sent cash. They never turned me down.

From this company, they sent me canceled stamps. Stamps from the US and other countries. Over the next two years, I built my collection up to 3019 stamps. The last time I added stamps to my album was January 13, 1994. I don't know why I ever stopped. Maybe it was because I ran out of run in my album or I just lost interest.

My interest in stamps is back. My husband was cutting out coupons last week and came across an ad for stamps. The ad was for a complete 50-state US stamp collection for only $2. The ad was from the same company I bought stamps from back in the 90s. I'm thinking about purchasing these stamps. They are only two dollars and I would get 50 of them. Fifty!

I pulled out my stamp collection Sunday. When I was flipping the pages, it brought back so many memories. It made me smile. I remembered how much fun I had. Riding my bike four miles round trip to the local post office to buy new stamps. Searching the house for any stamps. Buying stamping in a bundle not knowing what I would receive. Should I resurrect a hobby from my childhood? Or should I leave it in the past?

My favorite stamp of my collection is a mint Grace Kelly. I bought it in 1993 at my local post office. I didn't know who she was back then, but I thought she was really pretty. Now as an adult, I have watched her movies and read books about her. Kelly was a star and Princess, who had her life cut short in a car crash in 1982.