I'm always humbled by the response to this weekly column.

My goal since 1997 has been to write material that sparks conversations, recalls fond memories and perhaps evokes a laugh or two.

I cherish the handwritten letters, e-mails, telephone calls and conversations on the street, in restaurants and grocery stores. I'm grateful my column page isn't used to wrap fish (that I know of).

I got an interesting note from Beverly Moore Ripley who now resides in Glens Falls: "I was up to our Saranac Central School reunion and bought a cup, which the girl wrapped with your article so the cup wouldn't break. How's that for having a blast from the past?"

She referred to "Small Talk" from Aug. 16, saying, "You may have reminded some people that having kids work for what they want really is a GOOD thing."

Monica Emery from Dannemora enjoyed the information on the upsidedown tomato plants. When my first one was severed by wind, I simply turned the pot right side up and stuck it back into the dirt. It's thriving.

The second upsidedown plant got the blight, but I sprayed it and continue to pinch off the dead branches and leaves. We have already enjoyed several ripe tomatoes from it. The plants in the ground also thrived and some are more than 7 feet tall with huge red fruit. Is there anything more delicious than a sliced tomato sandwich with salt and pepper and lettuce topped with mayonnaise?

Monica and many others commented on the column referring to the poetry of James Whitcomb Riley. Monica promised to drive five miles to the library to find and enjoy his work. She'll share it with her grandchildren.

She also referred to my column on toys and games of yesteryear and expressed her lifelong love for paper dolls and crayons. She recounted a childhood story about having only one box of eight crayons to share among four older siblings. When she turned 50, a cousin gifted her with her "very own box of 48."

CAMPFIRE HOT DOGS
Monica's letters are longer than my columns, and I love every word. Speaking of my July column on "things that go bump in the night," she recalled that her husband Ken was an air traffic controller on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base in the late 1950s and "has some interesting UFO stories" from that time period.

As for our camping stories, she says, "My uncle used to say a hot dog cooked on a stick over the campfire wasn't edible until it had fallen into the fire, been rescued and had the ashes blown off."

I wrote about having a huge collection of ball caps and other hats. She called it "interesting history and commentary on our culture." She says her husband's first stop in a store is at the "cap" department.

Gary Snow in southern California spoke about pets, saying, "Having a pet as a child teaches children about life, death and change. And I feel this is the keystone of our own lives."

Pat Leclerc writes, "You mention brown spots on your lawn made by your dog. I've heard that 1 tablespoon of tomato juice in the dog's food each day can eliminate that problem."

Suzanne Cruser referred to a June column: "When I was very young, my aunt would read me a story and do it very scary. She would have me in tears and my grandmother would get very upset with her. When Nana died, the book was nowhere to be found. I saw a small note in a magazine and sent to Indiana for a copy. Thanks for the memory. I grew up in Rochester and that was a very early memory of fun times at my grandparents even though I was very 'skered.'"

Since I've been so remiss in mentioning the mailbag recently, I'll continue this topic next week. Thanks for writing.

Have a great day and please, drive carefully.

Gordie Little was for many years a well-known radio personality in the North Country and now hosts the "Our Little Corner" television program for Home Town Cable. Anyone with comments for him may send them to the newspaper or e-mail him at gordandk@aol.com.