Happy Independence Day, all of you who are stuck inside reading right now. I hope your day is free of worry and stress. As a child, Independence Day was my most worrisome, stress-filled holiday. I didn't like loud noises and fireworks, damn, they were LOUD. I don't remember a thing about the 4th of July in 1976, the 200th anniversary of our country, but I'm willing to bet there were a few loud noises that day that sent me diving under my bed. At that time, baseball cards hadn't quite become the solace that they are today. I was in just my second year of collecting cards and the meaning of those cards had yet to develop beyond "got it, got it, need it." No, when I wanted to get away from it all, I would read. I liked books for sure, but magazines were the coolest and most desirable periodical on the planet at the time. My grandmother -- who grew up on a farm -- had bought me a subscription to Ranger Rick magazine in 1975. I still remember the picture o...
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