What a Card

We pulled into the parking lot of the Holiday Inn and found a space in the back. The place was jammin' with sports collectors.

My kid is in this photo, too.

After paying our admission, we entered a room crammed with sports memorabilia. Uniforms, helmets, baseballs, footballs, hockey pucks and other paraphernalia autographed by stars and lesser known players. And, of course, there were bubble gum cards. Billions and billions of them. In every sport. And, for the benefit of spouses or friends who were there merely to lend support, there were the cards of our youth from TV shows and, of course, musical groups.

While Mr. Ginley wound his way through the sports-laden labyrinth in search of a prize, I picked up a binder and began to turn pages. It was bursting with plastic sheets, each equipped to hold eight cards (nine on each side). This particular binder contained Beatles cards. John, Paul, George and Ringo grinned, leered and sneered their best in shot after shot. Larking about playfully together. Giving a solo come-hither look. In concert or in the studio or in a taxi or running from screaming girls.

I enjoyed looking at them, and I was tempted, but I didn't buy any. I knew that I'd spend $3 or $4 or $5 for a card that I would put in a drawer somewhere. Mr. Ginley suggested I buy a few and frame them together, but I couldn't find the right combination. He managed to find a few things he wanted to purchase, so we did and took our leave.

Later, I began to wonder. My brother and I had collected a ton of cards. Back in the day, we'd even enjoyed chewing the rectangular wafer of bubble gum that was part of the package. So, where did they all go? Some gave their lives to the spokes of our bicycles. (I'm sure that thwack, thwack, thwack sound drove the neighbors nuts.) I had a vague recollection that I'd kept a handful. So I went a-lookin'.

There, in my Fox's Biscuit tin, I found what remains of my once-impressive collection. Approximately 40 Monkees cards. About half were from one series (with concert dates and "Monkees Questions and Answers" on the back); the rest featured a piece of a puzzle on the reverse side. The idea was to collect the entire series to form the puzzle. I don't think I ever quite managed this. There was always at least one elusive card.

Also in my tin I found some newer additions. Cards featuring scenes from the Andy Griffith Show, one with Carlos Baerga and a few Animaniacs.

Fortunately for the neighbors, I don't have any left that I'd be willing to part with. So, the clothes pins will remain in the basement, and I won't be riding my bike around at 8 am making that lovely noise.

But I was tempted, just for a second.