As a pre-boomer growing up, I collected all kinds of stuff.
Stones and sea shells were the first items I stored away.
Toy soldiers and emblems from WWII were the fun part of the war.
Later it was coins and stamps.
As I got into sports, my collection of baseball and football cards was a source of pride.
Then I started going to major league games and my collection of player autographs from the various Philadelphia sports team was a big deal.
Throughout my adult life, I have added to my display of advertisements and things from the early to mid-1900s.
I have fond memories about each of these phases of my life, as do all peoples who love to collect things.
Although I lived in the city, there were plenty of woods nearby and rambling through them or walking along the banks of the Pennypack Creek or the Delaware River yielded a lot of different stones.
I saved those that were not right for skipping, especially the ones that had veins of what looked like gold running through them.
Of course it wasn't gold; but every time I found one, there was a moment of hope that this time would be different.
And trips to the Jersey Shore produced a never-ending supply of shells of all kinds.
With many relatives and family friends servicing in the Second World War, I was able to put together more than a few emblems, insignia, ribbons and pins.
I kept them in a special drawer and regularly laid them out on the dinning room table to admire.
As for the toy lead-soldiers, I simply played with them until they were beyond repair.
After the US victories abroad, my interest turned to coins because a friend of mine started collecting them.
This soon moved to stamps, which were more attractive and had stories associated with the issuing countries' history and geographical location.
I have first day covers from when new stamps were issued and a rather spotty collection of American stamps dating back to the early 1900s.
Although my stamps are mounted in albums and stored away, I hope to someday introduce my grandson to the joys of being a Philatelist.
My hometown, Philadelphia, is a big sports city.
Most kids when I grew up saved the cards from bubble gum packages.
We traded them and flipped for them, but no one actually purchased them, because baseball and other sport card collecting had not yet become a business.
Along with the cards, we also collected autographs of local sports heroes; sometimes we were lucky enough to have them sign the cards.
Little did any of us realize how much these would be worth today.
Being an adman, I became interested in the evolution of packaged goods, promotional signs and ads.
Then I started collecting these old icons from all parts of the country until I put together a representative sampling of how marketing in America has changed over the years.
I love my collection and add to it whenever I discover the appropriate items.
Many pre-boomers have collected many things for many years.
As we become the New Seniors, it's time to share our collecting stories and passions with others so they may learn about the fun of pursuing a hobby.
Because, it's never too late to start enjoying the fun of collecting.