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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Theater review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' in Ashland Coffee with the editor Ashland footgolf event gives players a new way to get around the links Record attendance for Latino student gathering Robotics teams showcase their creations at ScienceWorks in Ashland on Saturday Education Record attendance for Latino student gathering Robotics teams showcase their creations at ScienceWorks in Ashland on Saturday Rogue Valley musicians shine in OLLI’s spring class schedule Work your body to save your braaaaains Ashland robotics team fares well at Oregon City Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Legislature might be divided on clean fuels bill, but these Ashlanders weren't Ashland Rowing Club members put their backs into Emigrant Lake clean-up The birdman of Bellview Business Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Ride & Drive: 2015 Hyundai Genesis Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Civic sedan Silvio Calabi: Mercedes-Benz ML250 raises the diesel 4×4 stakes Ride & Drive: 2015 Chrysler 300 Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Jolie Ann Eleanor Johnson Henry Allen Hamlin Shiela Marie Death Notices Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society Sports Latest Stories Ashland footgolf event gives players a new way to get around the links Young shoots Ducks into Pac-12 title game Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Raider softball team opens league play with split at Northwest West's 32 powers No. 21 Southern Oregon into Elite Eight High school Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Ashland High's Honsinger tops field in final nordic ski meet Grizz snowboard team heads to state with repeat potential Grizzlies let second-half lead slip away in season-ending loss to CV Williams named first-team all-star Southern Oregon University Young shoots Ducks into Pac-12 title game Raider softball team opens league play with split at Northwest West's 32 powers No. 21 Southern Oregon into Elite Eight Cold-shooting Raiders fall to Tabor in second round Ducks get hot, fend off Buffaloes in Pac-12 quarters Voices Latest Stories Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Herb Rothschild Jr.: Demonizing Putin makes case for war Letters to the Editor, March 14 Matthew T. Mangino: Leniency or smart punishment strategy Editorial Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Our View: Ashland is at risk as a bad fire season looms Our View: Ashland backs residents over visitors in lodging decision Our View: No need for blame in Hannah Thomas-Garner case Our view: Ashland tackles school attendance areas the right way Letters Letters to the Editor, March 14 Letters to the Editor, March 12 Letters to the Editor, March 11 Letters to the Editor, March 9 Letters to the Editor, March 7 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Columns Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy Herb Rothschild Jr.: Demonizing Putin makes case for war Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Jeffrey Gillespie: The opaqueness of Hillary Clinton Editor's Notes: Rooting for Eliza Schaaf in The Arc dance competition Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Movie listings: March 13-18 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' Community blog: Take a peek at poet Scott Wozniak Community blog: Memorize poems with your whole body Theater Theater review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' in Ashland Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket availability Music The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Another career highlight for Kelly Clarkson Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Movie review: ‘Cinderella’ is an instant classic Shailene Woodley returns as Tris in ‘Insurgent’ Movie listings: March 13-18 'Chappie' fails to make you care Food and Drink Sammich does it Chicago-style Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Inner Peace: A man is influenced by the company he keeps Community Blog: Grievances or Peace: That is the question Ride & Drive: 2015 Hyundai Genesis Life Lessons and Loves: The year of the stamps — and their many values Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy ... Ticket availability ... Coffee with the editor ... Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy ... Ticket availability ... Coffee with the editor ... Life Lessons and Loves: The year of the stamps — and their many values Comment By Andrea Honaker The Gaston Gazette DailyTidings.com By Andrea Honaker The Gaston Gazette Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 7:19 AM By Andrea Honaker The Gaston Gazette Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 7:19 AM » Social News I never cross paths with my postal carrier these days, but I’d wager to say that she probably thinks I’m a little crazy. You see, for the past year, I’ve been leaving her outgoing letters with stamps of varying worths. Rather than today’s 49-cents stamps, I’ve been attaching ones from 2 to 34 cents, and everything in between. This has been a good-for-me brain exercise at times, putting my feeble math skills to test. I just ran out of the higher-cented stamps, so my past few mailings have included smaller denominations that sometime stretch across half the envelope, which postal workers probably don’t appreciate. A vanilla envelope filled with stamps of all values made it into my hands last March after my grandmother passed away. Mamaw had received some of these stamps from her sister, who had collected them for a while, and bought others on her own. Now, before you stamp collectors start sending me hate mail, let me clarify that these are stamps from recent times and none of them appear to be rare or in mint condition. Mamaw was a wonderful woman all around, but letter writing was one of many areas where she shined epically. She was the most devoted of pen pals, sending out countless letters to friends and family each week. The U.S. Postal Service can thank her for a good deal of their profits. Mamaw enjoyed these correspondences immensely and made them a part of her daily routine. She updated her pen pals on what was new in her life and always stayed interested in the latest developments in theirs. Every note was sincere and thoughtful, written in her smooth, neat cursive. As she got older and her health started to fade, her penmanship got shakier and harder to decipher, and her notes gradually grew shorter. However, it was still evident that each scribbled word was filled with love and the most genuine of intentions. I kept a number of cards and letters that Mamaw mailed to me, and they hold a very special place in my heart. She never had to have a reason to send me something; she just did it to let me know she was thinking of me. And now, as my stash of Mamaw’s leftover stamps dwindles, it’s bittersweet. Of course, I have saved a ton of money by not buying stamps for a year. Mamaw would appreciate that greatly, as she was a woman who loved a good bargain. But more importantly, each stamp I press onto an envelope reminds me of her doing the exact same thing. And maybe in some small way, I’m keeping Mamaw’s letter-writing legacy alive. I think I’ll hold onto a few of the stamps in my stash, just to make sure I don’t forget. You can reach Gaston (N.C.) Gazette lifestyles reporter Andrea Honaker at [email protected] or 704-869-1840. Follow her on Twitter at @andi384 and read her blog at lifelessons.blogs.gastongazette.com. By Andrea Honaker The Gaston Gazette DailyTidings.com By Andrea Honaker The Gaston Gazette Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 7:19 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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