lindafay

Linda Adams

Location: Duncan, OK

Birthday: 9/10  Age: 54

Well, I was born in Texas, but we moved to Oklahoma when I was six, so I claim to be both a Texan and an Okie. I have one son, Bill, also a member of Yulelog. He recently graduated from college with a degree in some kind of computer stuff. He got a job at Murray State College in Tishomingo, where he got his associate degree. It's about 2 hours away, which is almost too far. We enjoy camping, fishing and anything in the outdoors. I grew up in Girl Scouting, so when Bill got in school, I got him in Cub Scouts, then Boy Scouts, and, of course, I joined as a leader. I'm still actively involved in both the Troop and Pack that Bill was in. I have two cats and one dog, all spoiled rotten. I enjoy reading, mainly mysteries, but anything will do. I used to also enjoy needlework, crochet knitting and needlepoint, but it's been years since I've had time to do any of that.

My collecting habit? It all started innocently enough. I was divorced in 1982. My new job was in downtown and we would go across the street to the drug store on breaks. This drug store carried Hallmark ornaments. I didn't know anything about them, but they caught my eye. Of course, they were way too expensive, but I did buy one or two on sale after Christmas. Then a couple of more the next few years at the sales. Then I started learning more about them. When I found out about the national club, I really wanted to join, but didn't feel like I could afford it. I did finally join in 1991. When I started getting the newsletters from the club, I loved finding out more and more information about the ornaments, artists, and other collectors. I thought the local clubs sounded like so much fun, but there wasn't one near me, and still isn't. When I got on the Internet in 2002, I found the Hallmark bulletin board just in time for it to close down. But they referred everyone to the Yulelog board. Imagine my delight to find so many people with the same addiction that I had! It was wonderful. I had bought the Yulelog software just the August before, but had never checked out the website because I didn't realize what it was.

I went to my first Artists on Tour event in Dallas in 1997. When they came out with information on it, I got Bill a national club membership so he could go with me. He was 17 by then and in high school. He had also become hooked on Hallmark by then, so he was more excited to get his own membership than I realized he would be. We had a wonderful time! Since then, we've been to Houston in 1999, Kansas City in 2001, and Irving in 2003. The 2003 one was even more fun, because now I had all these new on-line friends that I was getting to meet in person. I spent so much time running around talking to people that I missed out on a couple of the things that Hallmark had for us to do. Now I'm chomping at the bit for information on the 2005 events.

Favorite ornament or series? That's really hard. I love so many of them. I think one of my favorites, if not my very favorite is the 1994 Club Edition Majestic Deer. It's just pretty! I also like the Puppy Love series. I've been buying this series for my nephew ever since it started, but for some reason didn't start it for me. Now I'm wishing I had. I've picked up a few of them in the last year or so, but probably won't ever be able to get the complete series. The bigger display pieces of the last few years rank up there on my list, too. There's just something about all those pieces that all "go" together that appeals to me.
 
 

lindafay@cableone.net