Thankful for today, but dreaming of a better tomorrow…

December 28, 2021 by · Leave a Comment 

Christmas in the rearview mirror… New Year’s Eve just a stone’s throw away…

The week between these two holidays is prime for a healthy blend of contemplation, nostalgia, and anticipation. Was 2021 a banner year? Will it go down in the annals of history as one of the best years ever? Probably not, however, I am thankful for each and every day. Why? I was blessed with the breath of life, the love of God and family, a mix of both warm sunshine and nourishing rain, and the God-given ability to appreciate the (albeit) flawed present while looking forward to an even better tomorrow. The capacity to dream of a day when COVID, masks, and the inability to see the smiles of my “red and yellow, black and white” brothers and sisters are a thing of the past… when these very same “created in the image of God” siblings can engage in respectful dialogue even while holding opposing deep-rooted views tightly… when people trump politics, is no small gift.

Sometimes dreamers get criticized and dismissed as being naïve for having their heads in the clouds – for being unrealistic and perhaps a bit insane. These accusations may be true for some, but please don’t tell those who thought a band of ill-equipped, untrained, and often uncouth colonists could defeat the world’s greatest superpower of the day, that slaves could one day be free, that humans could fly and perhaps (as ridiculous as it sounds) travel to the moon… and back, that women could be given the right to vote, that a group of people who were treated by many as inferior simply due to the color of their skin would one day be viewed as equals, etc., were crazy. After all, they had a dream, and their dreams are now our reality.

So, today I choose to appreciate the fruit of yesterday’s dreamers while I dream of an even better tomorrow. Are you a dreamer? I hope so.

Please enjoy the last few says of 2021, AND although a bit early, Happy 2022! I can’t wait for what comes next.

You decide… Which is really the best? Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr…

June 19, 2015 by · Leave a Comment 

When it comes to placing a value on collectible newspapers, past prices realized can be invaluable. However, in most instances, due to the vast number of variables which exist even within a common event (city of publication, condition, dramatic appeal, etc.), finding comparables can be difficult.

We recently came across two issues which illustrate this point – both containing front-page 1st reports of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – one being the newspaper from where he was born and raised containing perhaps a little more detailed reporting (The Atlanta Constitution, Georgia), with the other being a nice issue from where the assassination took place (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN). Which is the more collectible newspaper? The answer may not be as easy as one might think. Years of experience have shown the Dallas Morning News‘ reporting of the JFK assassination to be hands-down the most desired issue – that is, the issue from where he was killed. In contrast, collectors find the Wapakoneta Daily News (Neil Armstrong’s hometown paper) with coverage of Man’s 1st Moon Walk to be the best.

What about Dr. King’s assassination? It is rare we can view each side-by-side (see below). We have our thoughts, but feel free to weigh in with thoughts of your own.

Blog-6-12-2015-King-Assassination-1Blog-5-12-2015-King-Assassination-2

The Traveler… taking important steps…

March 16, 2015 by · Leave a Comment 

Today I traveled to Detroit, Michigan, by the way of The Detroit News dated March 18, 1965. There I found “Russian Takes First Space Walk From Blog-3-16-2015-Selma-MarchOrbiting Ship”. This was the very first time that anyone had ever taken a walk in space, going sixteen-feet from the capsule.

Also on the front page was the reporting of “Allow Capital March, Judge Tells Alabama.” “A federal judge last night ordered Alabama officials to permit Dr. Martin Luther King’s civil rights army to march the 50 miles from Selma to this state capital (Montgomery). Moreover, the state authorities must protect the marchers…”. This was the granting of permission for the infamous Selma march which took five days to complete with thousands of people participating.

~The Traveler