This is my second blog entry since I reappeared after over a year of medical problems. However, my first new entry disappeared when I saved it inappropriately.. or so it seems. I am trying to recover it, but don't hold your breath (the couple of you who read these blogs.)
My congratulations to Anonymous, who is my best customer.. even during my hiatus, Anonymous continued to read and remark on my efforts. Most of the remarks are filled with references to current movie and TV stars, interspersed with ads for Viagra, Alka Seltzer and sleep aids. Nice. I like junk mail.
I may have told you about the time I gave a speech at Toastmasters, in which I voiced my love for junk mail. Guess what? Next month I received a big box of junk mail that my fellow members brought in for me.
Some years ago, computer companies would enclose one dollar bills in junk mail to tempt you to complete survey forms. Haven't received any in years. However, I do get lots and lots of nickels and dimes. I guess these days they feel certain that if you get money in the mail, you will send back bigger amounts of money for their charity. Sorry.. I keep every bit of free stuff I get in my junk mail.
I have hundreds of nice cards for all occasions.. I have pages and pages of return labels.. I have lots of notepads.. several flashlights.. and.. a few weeks ago I got a nice pen with the Niemand Associates name and address on it, and an offer I could not refuse. Pens with a logo for a quarter apiece.
I took the opportunity to order a few hundred, but with "Joe Vaughan Fan Club" emblazoned on them. I thought that this would be a nice gift for the loyal members of my famous club. If anyone from my club is reading this.. let me know if you would like one of these pens.. they really are nice.
I still maintain a post office box in Finksburg, Maryland. This is where most of my junk mail arrives. If you have any you'd like to donate, the address is PO BX 779 zip 21048.
Isn't it funny how our minds work? Zip codes just seem to pop up... and telephone numbers.. and that damned Morse Code translation that goes on all the time in my head. But why can't I remember people's names when I want to? And what happens to things like my hearing aid (which doesn't work anyway) and other important items that I mislay. And of course, I forget to take my pills once in a while. But still, obscure crossword puzzle words pop up when needed. Words that one has never heard used in everyday conversation.
I just read that one of my Social Security friends recently passed away. Harry Ballantyne was a gem of a person. A gentle man. He was another person who shared in my birthday club (February 1st). I think there are only 4 of the original group left.
Harry was the chief Actuary at SSA and a disciple of Bob Ball, as I was. If Congress had listened to Bob Ball and incorporated his ideas, SS would be solvent for the next 100 years.
Rest in peace, Harry!
No comments:
Post a Comment