#FeelGoodStory

As I sit here with my morning Joe, you know coffee not someone named Joe, I am deep into my thoughts about the world.

There is so much sadness, hate, anger and lostness. I see more and more of this on a daily basis. It's a whole different world than the one I grew up in.

As I continue to sit here and now typing and sipping, I am also reminded that there is also still some hope, love and kindness in the world. I just wished there was more of it.

I think the biggest thing that a lot of us forget is that it only takes a simple act to be kind. It is easier to be kind to someone then to cause hate/anger. Just these simple things can turn someone's day around believe it or not. How about holding a door for someone behind you? How about buying someone's lunch or paying for the person's coffee behind you in line? Or how about simply just saying good morning/afternoon to someone or at the very least, smile. Smiling can become contagiouis....well if not done in a creepy way like in that horror movie Smile.

If everyone of us took on these simple tasks, can you imagine what we might be able to do? Think about it. Kindness can spread just as much as negativity.

Recently, I tried to do my part with a middle schooler at the local school just up the road from me. I went in there and found an interesting flyer that caught my attention immediately.

There was a kid looking for a Stephen Curry card and was pretty much offering all he could just to get one. Even offering $200 for one which made me chuckle.

As soon as I read what he wanted, I knew I could provide something. I didn't know which Curry's I had left that I hadn't traded off, but knew what I had to do. I had to make this kid's day.

*takes a sip*

So, I went home and dug out what I had. Thought I had something a little better leftover, but these are better than nothing. Especially since the kid was looking just to have one card of him.

I left the cards with the lady in the office who told me she would get them into the right hands.

Which she did. 

 

A few days later this note was brought to me, I scratched off the names for privacy for this post, thanking me for the cards. It made my heart melt and I knew I had done what every human/collector would have done.

I will hang this in my card room as a reminder if I am having a down day how a simple act can not only make myself feel better, but someone else.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I challenge you all reading this today to do your part. It doesn't have to be giving cards to someone, it can be the simple acts I mentioned above. DO SOMETHING!! Anything!

Thoughts below on my story and if you have had an similar stories to tell welcomed in comments. Or turn this into a Feel Good Story blog bat around or use social media with the hashtag #FeelGoodStory and post yours there. The more feel good stories we have, the better. Let's show the good in the world and make someone's day.

Hope you have a great and safe holiday weekend, thanks for reading.

*takes a sip*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Musical Memories (an Incredible Random Acts Of Kindness)

Today's post starts out with a message I received on Twitter from @MrKDub

This hobby community is built on the amazing backs of awesome people, like yourself, doing amazing things, not for themselves, but for others! We are so appreciative of the effort and work that you put into making this community what it is. The group below wanted to say thank you for your efforts and hard work, we hope this item finds a special place in your collection. Never any pressure, but it is always fun when we can join in and be a part, so if you would be willing to open it live, always fun, but no pressure to do so, bottom line, know that we appreciate who you are and what you do for this hobby community. Let this small token of appreciation be a constant reminder for that. Your friends in #TheHobby ,
@KurtSchwanda
@MrKdub
@thepointsports1
@nearmintzki
@bmw3679
@benfuqua
@eshecker
@KellysKards1768
@DReynolds5294
@papayontrading
@BettsKetts
@QuadosCorner2
@WillieJ3nkins
@Rowdy421
@Brent3323
@dandreaeady
@K37troyer
@s10blazer99
@GarrettAdair19
@MK_breaks
@millerjs241
@jeremynyr
@steelcitygoon84
@allset24
@KellysKards1768
@BentleyTock
@90sNicheFBCards
@keckscards
@IraKates
@jfortner88
@mcfarm21
@CollectorJoe15
@KimJFlanders
@Andyscards85
@HiveCards
@LastSecondSnags
@Peajay021
@HookemMike
@_AlleyAwesome
@HokiePorter
@M_J_Erickson
@ToddSass1
@MikeyBCards
@Tcorvino792
@EgresitsJohn
@ToneyDavid11
@RapidCards
@noah_sattison
@KyleLewisforGov
@good2bgold

In this message was also tracking for a package. I had no idea what was coming and had no idea why still I was chosen for it. All I knew was that I was probably about to be blown away.

The package, after taking a long trip here, arrived yesterday and I am just getting prepared to see what this weeklong surprise is.

*sits down for today's Cards Over Coffee post. has coffee by his side, a surprise package and excitement like it is Christmas in the air. we all know how much I love Christmas*

*takes a sip...looks over at the package and realizes scissors will be needed. gets up, grabs scissors carrying them appropriately and comes back to the table to open the package*

*does so*

 

*looks through the package while trying to video the opening on the phone, gets to the item, realizes it will actually take a new post to do this justice as my video was poorly shot and my hands shaking didn't help*

*feels blown away...pictures the Will Ferrell meme of his mind being blown as myself*

*takes another sip, wipes away a tear, gets ready for a new post on Cards Over Coffee*

*hopeful you are ready and tips mug your way while wiping another happy tear away*

Picture it. It was 1991 or so and I was riding in the car with my father running errands and having our one of our bonding moments which was to turn on the radio and listen to music together while we were out. 

When we listened to the radio, we always made sure to turn it up when Elton John came on. My father since his youth was a big Elton fan and always jammed out when he came on the radio. It was something we did every time we got in the car, unless my mom was in it. She was not so much a fan.

A few years later when we started collecting sport cards, my father acquired Elton's Too Low For Zero Cassette tape and we listened to that a lot. So much, that I remembered all of the song lyrics even still to this day. Most of the time we listened to that tape, we were heading out to the card shop or on our way to the monthly card show knowing my mother wouldn't tag along with us for those trips. We wouldn't have wanted her to anyways if she had seen the amount of money "wasted" as she called it. We called it fun and making everlasting memories.

Because of those days and the fond memories, I have attached to them, I became an Elton fan myself. I picked up many of his CD's over the years including the CD version of Too Low For Zero (though I still own the original cassette tape we had) and listen to him a lot.

The power of music and memories attached to them is incredible. Especially as you age and life changes. I don't see a lot of my father since I moved out after high school many years ago, other than a couple phone calls a week as both of our schedules are packed. Listening to music, especially Elton, brings back a lot of powerful times.

*takes a sip, turns on the Too Low For Zero CD in the CD player. yes, I am one of the very few people who still listens to CDs*

*enjoys a minute of memories before continuing on with today's post*

For the past few years, roughly five, I have been getting deep into non-sport collecting and adding pieces from my youth that bring back memories. I have autographs from Betty White, Kevin James, Leah Remini, Bob Newhart, Angela Lansbury, and Bob Saget to name a few that bring back those sweet times.

One autograph I didn't have and couldn't ever afford was my biggest need to my childhood memories collection and collecting overall. Yes, it was Elton.

*takes another sip, jams out to I'm Still Standing for a few seconds before continuing on*

I heard three years ago that Elton did a few TTM autographs from a group on Facebook I was a part of and tried it myself only to get an unsigned photo in return since he didn't have any more signed. So, I waited a few weeks later and tried again only to have my envelope in general returned back to me.

Ugh.

I didn't give up there as I am not one to give up very easily.

I began to use that group to see if anyone had scored an extra one for trade which they did not.

Double Ugh.

That led me to trying another group on Twitter that did TTM autographs and trying to locate an address for me. That came up empty as well.

Triple Ugh.

Then I attempted the last few years on Twitter trying to trade for one with having no luck. The last few months I actually gave up tweeting about trying to get one. I had reached my point realizing that I wasn't probably ever going to land one. EVER.

Instead, I added a few small cards that Elton was featured on hoping that would work. It did, but still didn't turn me away from wanting his autograph someday.

What I didn't know was that someday was going to be today.

 

Inside of the USPS flat rate shipping package above was a bubble envelope (also shown above), that had a rubber banded cardboard piece (once again shown above) which had this CD inside of it first.

That alone was cool.

When I first heard this remix song, I had mixed feelings. I am not one for remixes but after a few listens, it grew on me. It wasn't much longer after I became obsessed with the song, which by the way became a topic of discussion for my father and I during our weekly phone chats.

Under the CD was this PSA COA.

Then under that....

Well....

Wow....

Skipping across the room....

Tears of happiness....

Jumping for joy.....

Amazing....

Incredible.....

Hand shaking....

Wow...

Oh wow....

Signed Elton Art Card with PSA approval.

If you're mind isn't as blown as mine is right now, please re-read this post.

I couldn't do it on the video and not sure I can even here say the right words of thankfulness I am feeling. It's too hard and I am not even sure those words even exist.

But, all of you guys, I am talking about this list of incredible, thoughtful, amazing, friendly, good-natured individuals that did this for me, THANK YOU. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever times infinity forget what you did for me today.

@KurtSchwanda
@MrKdub
@thepointsports1
@nearmintzki
@bmw3679
@benfuqua
@eshecker
@KellysKards1768
@DReynolds5294
@papayontrading
@BettsKetts
@QuadosCorner2
@WillieJ3nkins
@Rowdy421
@Brent3323
@dandreaeady
@K37troyer
@s10blazer99
@GarrettAdair19
@MK_breaks
@millerjs241
@jeremynyr
@steelcitygoon84
@allset24
@KellysKards1768
@BentleyTock
@90sNicheFBCards
@keckscards
@IraKates
@jfortner88
@mcfarm21
@CollectorJoe15
@KimJFlanders
@Andyscards85
@HiveCards
@LastSecondSnags
@Peajay021
@HookemMike
@_AlleyAwesome
@HokiePorter
@M_J_Erickson
@ToddSass1
@MikeyBCards
@Tcorvino792
@EgresitsJohn
@ToneyDavid11
@RapidCards
@noah_sattison
@KyleLewisforGov
@good2bgold

I hope you guys can feel the raw emotion through the screen. I tip my mug to you all.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post. listens to another song*

As I sit here typing, memories of riding in the car with my father and our trips for collecting are coming back. Great times.

I now also realize a new memory was made with Elton today because of the people above. I cannot say this enough, thank you everyone on that list.

I hope everyone reading this today has a great Friday and weekend. Drink some coffee, not alcohol.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Covid, Playing Cards and Yada Yada Yada

*grabs kleenex box and places on table*

*goes and gets coffee prepared and sits back down for another cards over coffee*

*takes a sip*

*blows nose, coughs some*

*takes another sip*

It's been a long couple of weeks as I am still dealing with some parts of Covid but things are finally starting to turn the corner as I am feeling a little better today.

*wipes nose*

Now that things are hopefully now turning in the right direction, I need to do some catching up on mail days I have received in this time frame and yada yada yada.

*coughs, gets up and washes hands, sits back down, takes a sip, continues to type*

One of the coolest additions that came in the mail was the latest introduction to my Seinfeld collection.

Seinfeld Playing Cards. I know these don't count as trading cards, but they still have the word cards in them.....right?

I can still play cards over coffee so it counts on here. Speaking of playing cards, my biggest memory with playing cards is playing War against my mom at 4 am before school while sipping on some coffee. Those were the days. It was a different time then, not sure any parents would give their under 10-year-old coffee now. 

*takes a sip*

I got these cool cards as a Random Acts of Kindness from @ArcadeCouple on Twitter.

The cards with numbers in the set run the same way as a regular deck of cards, which was a bit disappointing, however, the special cards each feature a Seinfeld character.

Kramer is the Ace of the deck

King Jerry

 

Queen Elaine

Jack is no other than George

And finally, they are all Jokers and a bunch of yada yada yadas.

I wished the rest of the deck would had included episode scenes. How cool would that have been? I may have binder paged them all if they were like that.

Thanks again to @ArcadeCouple for sending me this. My collection and myself thanks you.

*wipes nose again*

*coughs slightly*

*gets up, washes hands and sits back down to take a sip before finishing up today's post*

I am hoping I can get some more new posts going on here now that I am hopefully feeling better. I am actually glad to had gotten my Vaccines as I can imagine this would have been a lot worse than it was. My nephew got hit really hard with it being unvaccinated.

Before I finish up, get vaccinated and wear your masks. I am not saying this for political reasons, but for health and medical reasons. Also, PLEASE make sure you stay home if you have any symptoms, so you don't infect others......like me. Curse you spreader who got me!!

Thoughts on my mail day welcomed in comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*