Thinking about making an attempt to get back on the horse

I had a free day to do what I pleased Monday, something that has been a rarity these last three months.

I thought it would be a good idea to catch up on organizing and packaging some long-delayed card envelopes. I found the next five collectors on my backlog list and settled into the rhythm of stacking the cards on the dining room table, searching through the collection and gathering the mailing supplies. For a little bit, it felt right to be doing this again.

I made it through one plain, white envelope.

That was it.

Today, I put all the cards that I had meant to package back on the desk where they have been waiting for weeks. Turns out, I'm just not ready yet. I like the idea of getting those card packages prepared, but my physical enthusiasm for the process hasn't returned yet. Although I feel like I'm OK after my parents' passings, this is another reminder that I'm not ready to get back on that horse.

But I'm still making mental notes of what certain collectors want. Recently, reader Jonathan sent me another whopping stack of cards. He's looking to complete the 2013 Panini Hometown Heroes set, even the SPs. I think I have some cards for him, I don't think I'll be tackling the SPs after all.

Let's see some of the cards that Jonathan sent. As usual, they were all over the place.

Starting with some 1990s Dodgers needs. These probably don't appeal much to my blog readers but needs are needs. And speaking of other '90s Dodger needs that aren't all that exciting:

It's 1993 Pacific, baby. This is an early '90s set known for being elusive. I must be fairly close to completing the team set now.

This Darryl Strawberry (with some paper loss) makes me even more confident that my Pacific mission is close to done.

Jonathan also sent four of the Dodgers from the 1994 Fleer Extra Bases set, those oversized, bookmark-like cards.

I've looked down on these cards in the past because of the storage issues. However, I find if I refer to them as "tall boys," which is a phrase for oversized card gems of the '70s, I like them a lot more! It's all in the phrasing!

Jonathan also found a few modern Dodger wants. It's fun to acquire Corey Seager cards again now that he's healthy and hitting (of course, I jinxed Seager by writing that).

I am dazzled by this beauty. The most impressive aspect may be how flat it is. 2010 Chrome, as veterans know, is not cooperative and conspires to curl up right in front of you. This, however, is smoooooooooooth.

Many of the rest of the cards in the package were oddball in nature, meaning cards after my own heart. How do you make a Mariners card appeal to me? Make it odd, my friend.

Some of the greatest oddballs known to man, though, are O-Pee-Chee. Do Canadians consider these oddballs? Probably not.

This is the best one though. OPC's charm comes from featuring a photo of a player with one team while listing the player with another team. This Tanana card has an extra terrific feature as the "Now with ..." tag mentions the wrong team. Someone didn't know their red from their white. Tanana never pitched for the Pale Hose.

Some of the cards were minor league in nature, most of which were my favorite non-TCMA minor league set, 1991 Line Drive.

A whole bunch more. Mostly Buffalo Bisons 😃.

This one is extra groovy.

Getting back to Pacific, did you know they were making trading cards in 1968? I didn't. I wonder what those were, non-baseball I assume. My first knowledge of them are the legends sets from the late 1980s. And Jonathan sent a bunch of that, too.

Isn't that fun? Those are from the 1988 and 1989 Pacific sets. While I've never been crazy about the look of these I cannot dispute the content. Everyone featured in these sets were notable players in the history of baseball, but they get ignored by Topps, who is only interested in the starriest of stars. Hit 500 home runs or else.

Every once in awhile a set like this or the aforementioned Hometown Heroes shows proper respect for baseball's history. But it doesn't happen often enough.

Speaking of baseball history, how about a nifty 1956 Topps need? My first knowledge of Smoky Burgess came off of a TCMA card but I'll gladly accept this as a very close runner-up to that one. Look at that action!

And here are a couple team cards with those cool color-coded top loaders. That's a whole lot of fun.

As you can see, amid all the death and destruction around here, I still treasure my cards. And I know other people do, too, and that's why I want to mail those cards out when I can.

So I want to get back on that horse. I really, really do.

But I don't think I can do much better than clear a Shetland Pony right now.