Photographed this past summer in Rossville, an unincorporated village in Allamakee County in northeastern Iowa.
THROUGH THE FILTER OF MY MEMORY, I picture her seated at the kitchen table, booklets spread before her on the stiff floral oilcloth.
She’s licking strips of Gold Bond Stamps, carefully placing them within a paper grid.
Fill the booklet and she can redeem the coveted stamps for merchandise. Except I cannot remember anything my mom ever got with those stamps.
Rather, I recall the stockpiling of stamps, watching her and, occasionally, myself, running my tongue along the glue then meticulously positioning those precious golden rectangles upon paper.
Oh, the memories of Gold Bond Stamps.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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