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You Need Not
Perish To Be
Honored On
Artistamps
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|
 Life
has it’s surprises and not all of them are good. Unfortunately, they can be quite
devastating to a comfortable, daily routine. Surprises such as a checkup discovering the
presence of lymphoma attacking one’s body is far more than disheartening. Add to that
the idea of facing months of highly aggressive chemotherapy as the ‘best’
possible solution to the problem. Disheartening becomes a very gross understatement.Just
another real life situation that we hear about everyday; right? Not for Karen Gaffey. This
obstacle in Karen’s life path presented it’s ugliness in March of 2004. Many, if
not all, of Karen’s friends and family had similar responses after the shocking news
settled. She’s a survivor, she’s going to make it through this. Which she has.
With flying colors and only a few minor battle-scars visibly noticeable as a result.
While in real life situations such as Karen’s, there are no purple hearts awarded.
No medals for bravery and valor. Karen and the rest of us common, everyday folks normally
only get to pay the bills afterwards and suffer through the other ‘realities’
associated with situations like this.
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| Common folks surely do not receive
any recognition by large postal authorities belonging to bureaucratic governments either.
Which is one of the most compelling reasons by-and-large, that artistamps have a definite
place – and role -- in the realm of philately. Consider, if-you-will, that while
artistamps continually receive somewhat less than flattering press in the various journals
relating to philately. While quite frequently they also are referred to as a catchall
sub-category to Cinderella stamps, and again, just as frequently in a less than flattering
tongue. These little pieces of postal decor have the distinct ability to commemorate the
good things that occur in our time here on earth.
In Karen’s situation, for example, she would have had to meet an untimely end from
her battle with cancer, or it’s cures. Then the stamp collectors of the world, and
her family, would have to wait no less than ten years for the United States Postal Service
to even consider her likeness to flatter a real U. S. postage stamp. Which would be highly
unlikely in this example. Because Karen hasn’t won a Pulitzer prize, written the
world’s greatest novel, or founded a better cure for the cancer that stole five
months of her life away.
Under the USPS 10 year rule of eligibility to be commemorated on a U. S. postage stamp,
she could be honored in just over a year. If she was in office as President of the United
States, at the time of her death. Of course since Karen is very much alive, well, we
won’t be seeing her on a real postage stamp anytime soon.
But thanks to artistamps, Karen, along with her friends and family, will be able to
celebrate her conquering cancer and the painful chemotherapy every time a piece of
correspondence goes into the mail.
[Letters Of Support Welcome] |
