<\/p>\n Considering what 2020 has been like, it would seem that this Christmas would be an ideal time for some of this stuff to hit the market. I\u2019m not really selling any of it, but it gives me a good excuse to present the next round of finds that Mom held on to.<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with this sure-to-impress-your-friends lovely phone receiver cover (might need a spot of polish):<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I can\u2019t believe it, but I actually found another one here on Etsy: https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/SuchClass<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n So if you\u2019re looking for a non-working Princess phone that wears protection for 20 bucks, I\u2019ll understand if you pass mine up.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perhaps I could interest you in a sure-fire way to quickly find the right key on your key ring:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n No? Well, surely this Stretch Strapper is up your alley (can be used as emergency handcuffs\u2026\u2026\u2026..in private):<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Traveling back to 1975 any time soon? You\u2019ll want this unopened \u201cCrossroads of the Revolution\u201d commemorative license plate to attach over your front New Jersey license plate. Don\u2019t live in New Jersey? Move!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While you\u2019re still in the patriotic mode, consider purchasing an America\u2019s Heritage Liberty Bell candle (also unopened). Perhaps you can use it to illuminate your rear<\/em> New Jersey license plate:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Flying to Australia in the near future? While it may not be patriotic (or permitted, given the current air travel restrictions during the pandemic), just mix in a few local words like \u201cmate\u201d and wallaby\u201d into your conversation as you wave your (unopened) Qantas Travel Kit in the faces of any authority figures in your way. You will be welcomed with open opens that will promptly throw you into a quarantine cell:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A couple of Dad items: Who isn\u2019t into fire alarm boxes and Indian head\/Buffalo nickel decanters (while still smelling their best)?<\/span><\/p>\n This is the one you\u2019ve always heard about, but could never get your hands on\u2026\u2026\u2026Avon\u2019s Fire Alarm Box \u201cAvon Spicy\u201d after shave:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even better\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026 Avon\u2019s Indian Head\/Buffalo Nickel after shave, aptly-titled \u201cWild Country\u201d:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019d rather smell bad? Then try this United States Tobacco Company tankard (or maybe it\u2019s a personal hand-held spittoon to keep yer tabacky juice off yer duds):<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This might actually be a rarity. I\u2019ve found similar ties online, but none with the \u201cLarry Hagman – Karl-Lorimar Home Video\u201d label (Hagman starred in the \u201cDallas\u201d TV show and narrated the 1987 smoking cessation video that this tie refers to):<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Impress your friends! Make believe you\u2019ve been to Taiwan with this lovely souvenir:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mom and Dad were smart. They bought this one pair of somewhat rigid shoes that all their children wore while learning to walk. We all may walk a little funny these days because of that, but Mom and Dad must have saved at LEAST 10 bucks on shoes for each of us:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019ve all probably heard of \u201cDon McNeill\u2019s Breakfast Club\u201d, but did you know that it ran for 35 years on radio and TV (1933-1968)? Neither did I (nor do I care that much). But Mom was apparently a fan – I found this 1947 Yearbook of DM\u2019s BC:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And while I had no real interest in its content, one page caught my eye:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A blowup of the story:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c\u2026the day when television is an everyday reality\u201d just sounds so strange.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can you imagine watching TV with friends this way?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A little earlier in that decade, Mom and Dad met at IBM World Headquarters in Manhattan. She saved some postcards of the time (I used to collect these and I\u2019ve NEVER seen these ones before\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026and none of them are currently on eBay).<\/span><\/p>\n This is where they worked – 590 Madison Avenue:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n These are images of the Employees\u2019 Club Room and Club Library. If you look very closely at the first two, you might be able to make out \u201cTHINK\u201d signs on the far end walls:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n These pictures are of the IBM facility in Endicott, NY – about 150 miles northwest of Manhattan (quite a haul just to get to work). I know I have pictures of Mom being there:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I also found a lot of stamps, but only one small group was meant for postage – these 10 from Greece:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The items in Mom\u2019s collection were from decidedly non-postal sources:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She even saved a newspaper article telling her where to redeem them:<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/iaintjustmusic.bobleafe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/1-IMG_5378-min.jpg\")
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