Trading is alive and well

I've been reading lately that trading through the blogs is dying out. Mailboxes are empty. Desks clear. Binders and pages waiting in vain.

Hooey.

Say stuff like that too often or too loudly and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Trading dying? I don't believe it for a second. Sure, it's not as vibrant a scene as it was six or seven years ago, but as long as there are several bloggers who want to trade, we'll be OK. Because those who want to do something will always press through. No matter what they have going on in life, they'll eventually get to their heart's desire.

Take me for instance. I think I've sent out a single PWE in a month's time this spring. Probably didn't send much out before that either. I had my reasons -- oh, did I ever. But I always knew. I always knew what I'd do when I got the chance.

I would mail out cards.

I never forgot that. People endure episodes. Stuff takes them away from cards. The post office jacks up the price, again. Life hates this hobby and will conspire against it in untold ways. You must soldier on. If you like getting new cards, determination is key.

So, yesterday, I followed up on my promise made during visits to the hospital, while preparing for funerals, during countless road trips. I mailed out cards.

I sent out six packages. And, lordy, the cost to send a first-class package is a lot higher now isn't it? But I didn't mind. There were -- there are -- so many collectors that I owe, or that I simply have cards for, which have accumulated over the months. I was finally sending out those cards.

Meanwhile, I'm still getting stuff. As deficient as I've been, people are still sending me cards. Yippee!

It helps to have such long-standing trade partners like Kerry of Cards On Cards. This now becomes a display of yet another Cards On Cards mailing. And it shows that I'm a really easy trade partner. You don't have to search around forever for a card I want. I'm not in this for Mantles or the Rookie Du Jour.

I'm happy with 1989 Fleer.

Well ... I wouldn't say "happy." But I am trying to complete the set. I am hoping that it will go as quickly as possible. Because I don't need to be showing these cards for any longer than necessary. I don't need to have a want list for any longer than necessary either.

But while I do, and while I have ...

Feel free to take advantage.

Kerry also sent a couple cards from another gray-themed Fleer set that's readily available.

Here is a 1983 Fleer Tom Underwood to go along with the charming Brad Havens card at the top of the post.

Yet another easy-to-find, gray-bordered card. I'm trying to accumulate as many of the When Puigs Fly Heritage cards as possible. I'm asking for your dupes! How easy is that?

The remainder of the cards from this package were Dodgers, of course, of the modern variety.

I've stopped pretending to know what Panini is releasing these days and when it comes out. It would help me when I'm updating my binders if I stayed on top of this stuff, but it's nearly impossible and why bother. Nobody's wearing a logo on their helmet.

I am doing very well in my team set quest for Big League, better than any other set that's been released.

I think that's because the cards aren't as costly, there aren't any short-prints and it's a fun-and-familiar set that speaks to collectors like me who remember sets before the days of artificial scarcity (OK, so there are still plenty of parallels -- I think that's my fourth version of the Kenley Jansen card).

One last card, a green parallel of the Fresh Prince. I'm so glad somebody's buying Bowman.

And that's my latest trade package. There are still 2 or 3 sitting on my card desk waiting for their time. Sure, maybe it's not the days when I had a backlog of eight or nine, but that's the ebb and flow of life.

Even though I can go weeks or months without sending out a card package, I'm always looking to trade.

Always assume that's the case.

Until I say otherwise.

Or the blog stops updating.