The Great Paper Chase - a Stationery Collection

Pen Pals Love Stationery!

By Marjorie L Sallee

One of the problems that goes along with becoming a lifelong and committed pen pal is, what do I do with all the paper? Suddenly that little writing desk I own can't possibly hold everything. I have not only gone into one of the most heartwarming hobbies in the world, I find myself into some serious collecting as well.

When I first started writing to pen pals as a young girl, all I needed was an ordinary writing tablet, some envelopes, some stamps (they cost 3 cents then!), and a couple of pens. An old cigar box would keep everything together with space left over. That fit into a dresser drawer so easily. It was always a very tidy looking box as I recall.

Well, fifty years later I find myself with a room that is dedicated to writing letters (and some other things, too). I have a computer and a computer desk with a drawer, lower shelf to hold a couple of reams of paper and some envelopes easily, four cabinet slots above my head, a smaller table that holds the printer.

That would be okay if that's all I had. But I have a two-drawer file cabinet, a plastic drawer chest, a couple of medium plastic storage boxes, and an ironing board that serves as an extra table top at times. Buried beneath a lot of books is another typing table purchased years ago to hold the electric typewriter which I used before the computer came into my life.

Along the way I have become a compulsive paper purchaser. During a recent clean-out of this space, I found enough paper to last me the rest of my lifetime, I'm sure. I had to pick up a box of five reams of copier paper last week because it was such a good price. I justified it because my daughter can use some of it. She's back in college and has to write a lot of papers.

Then the whole lower shelf of the printer table holds my collection of decorated computer sized paper. I have to look at the newpapers at Wal-Mart, Office Max, and every paper catalog that comes to my house. I tell myself I am just looking because I really don't need any paper. But if the design is new and pretty and I don't have any like that, I am apt to bring it home with me. I can always use it for a gift for another pen pal (who might have a paper stock equal to mine already!)

The plastic drawer units hold the things like stickers, post cards, note cards, tablets, stationery sets, etc. I don't even have an extra pen in here -- those are stored in the desk area of my kitchen. I think my letter-writing hobby has expanded and is now trying to take over the entire house.

One drawer holds the things I might use for tuck-ins or gift exchanges -- small calendars, address books, book marks, tuck in cards, tea towels, plaques, small books, etc. I buy brown mailing envelopes in big boxes -- 50 or 100 at a time. I save the bubble wrap I receive, but I usually pitch the Styrofoam packing beads. I need padded mailing envelopes, too. And if there's time, I would like to start a real scrapbook with photos of my pals, their personal information, etc. So much to do, so little time, and even less space!

Sometimes I wonder if I could ever get back to a simpler time and a simpler life -- a plain writing tablet, a few envelopes, some stamps, a couple of pens stored in an old cigar box (or a fancy tin that chocolates came in). Wouldn't it be wonderful? I'd probably have time to write more letters, too.

* Marge wrote her first pen pal letter when she was 11 years old. That was over 50 years ago. She is a retired school teacher, a mother of three grown children and six grandchildren.