I never thought I’d see the day where I’d find stamp design compelling or the copy on the back of the adhesive sheets to be worthy of chuckling out loud. I guess marriage changes you into a slipper-wearing, mumbling and muttering old man. When I hit the stage where I call out, “WHERE’S MY ASPERCREME?!?” someone needs to stop me. And then park me in front of “The Price Is Right”, with my Reader’s Digest, travel version of Connect Four! and that other game with golf tees that they have at The Cracker Barrel.

So anyway, Saturday I picked up two booklets of stamps, and was happy to find a Jim Henson series. Henson has always been my idol, and the Muppets a significantly formative part of my childhood.

Sam the Eagle (not my favorite Muppet as a child) means more to me as an adult, having watched the distinguished Evening News gentleman, the faces of the nation, solemn with the gravity of their own responsibilities and duties. As a child, I did not see the human parallels and parodies, but today the juxtiposition of the “serious talking head” figure and his quote on the back of his stamp is hilarious:

I am humbled and honored to be on a stamp issued by this great nation. Out of respect for the US Postal Service and yours truly, please do not put me on a letter with any of these other weirdoes.

Partiotically Yours,
Sam the Eagle

I’m sure he meant no disprespect to Beaker, The Swedish Chef, or the rest of the gang.