Iris August Hinden It was an awfully long time ago. My son, now the father of teenagers, was a young teen himself. He was exhibiting in the Youth Section at Interphil and, since I had to be there with him, I offered to sit at the Hospitality Table for RPSS, an organization I had joined shortly before. John and I sat at the table, and everybody was all excited because Schobe was at this show too. Actually, my philatelic background was nonexistent, the hobby emerged when it became apparent my son needed supervision and transportation. When he opted to “specialize” in other areas he gave his few Ryukyu commemorative stamps to me because I said they were “pretty”. I contacted George MacLellan and joined RPSS, and somehow Schobe and I began corresponding, not so much about philately - he sent me poetry he had written and I sent him some of my daughter’s, and we discussed medicines, plants, and dogs. FTDD articles on the Kume Shima stamp intrigued me, and I had written to John Head asking more about them. That day, as we sat at the table, he said, “Here, I have something for you.” It was a terrific copy, shockingly expensive, way out of range of my budget! I needed morale support. Schobe was in his wheelchair, way across the hall, looking at exhibits. I asked John if I could bring it over to him, to show him, to see what he thought? We both headed for Schobe, with me and the Kume in the lead, and John a respectable distance behind. I know now he just wanted to watch Schobe’s reaction. I showed him the Kume, told him John was offering it, and asked if he thought it was something I “needed” - at which point his eyes welled up and he held my hand, and tearfully nodded yes, yes, yes. So now I knew I should try to buy it, but still had no money to put into it. John and I headed back to “man” the table. We both smoked, he a lot more than I … I told him I just couldn't afford it. And he answered, “If you quit smoking, and send me every month what you would have spent on cigarettes, you can pay it off. I don’t care how long it takes. Are you ready?” It was an offer I couldn't refuse… A little later, he asked me about #44-53. I said I had a few and was perfing and UVing everything I found as I followed #1 son around shows. He said, “Well, I have a huge stock of them, and they all need perfing and papers checked. Want to do them at home for me? You can keep what you need and just send the rest back identified.” We sent shipments back and forth. I just hope I was accurate! He never questioned me. That was way back in the seventies. Over the years John and Fumi and I maintained the closeness of dear friends. Once in a while I was a customer, but always our friendship was paramount. (And, I never smoked again!) My interest in Ryukyu philately deepened and many friendships developed during the fifteen years I served as RPSS Treasurer. Tragically, we have lost many outstanding members, so many of whom reminisced a wealth of knowledge and personal experiences, adding that element of “life” to our academic quests. John, of course, is high on that list. But, dearest of my memories is John, handing me a “Kume”, trusting me to quit smoking and, someday, pay him for it. You've got to love a guy like that! I think it may be a facet of John Head that not too many people have seen. Feisty he may have been, but with a soul full of kindness and bursts of generosity. Ask Fumi, she knows… He will be missed… |
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