The mailbag is bulging again. I always appreciate any and all comments on this weekly silliness.

I received so much response to the recent column on hugs that I felt like I was on the receiving end of the biggest collective hug of all.

Thanks. I needed that.

Readers said they loved reminiscing about old cameras. My friend Frank Pabst came up to me at the Post 20 American Legion Veterans Day ceremony and said, "Hey, Gordie, I've got four of those Kodak Brownies like the one you mentioned. Want one?"

Another friend from the South sent me a note wondering why I used the phrase "dunking for apples" in my Halloween piece.

"We always called it bobbing for apples," he chided.

I wrote Jack a response, saying, "You bobbed. I dunked. Different strokes for different folks."

STOLEN UNDERWEAR
About my recent trip to the old sod, I heard from my many Irish friends and several who wish they were. Most were envious. Some wanted to share their experiences when they toured the country. One woman is such a good friend that I would never embarrass here by printing her name in this space. She had read that I spent two nights in a haunted castle with no ghosts showing up. She related with an almost straight face about a beautiful place she stayed wherein someone or something sneaked into her room when her back was turned and stole two pairs of her underwear. I'm sure it was a mischievous leprechaun. She'll no doubt blush when she reads this. I certainly hope so.

One week, I wrote about the origin of "Tom, Tom, the Piper's son." My friend Jack wrote, "Before I read your Sunday column, I was outside mowing the last bit of grass on the side of the garage. All of a sudden, I started singing 'Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son.' I have no idea why I did that, but it was clear as a bell. Then I remember you telling me that you were planning to write a column on nursery rhyme origins. After I finished working in the yard and cleaned up, I went to the computer and pulled up your column. I chuckled for about twenty minutes. It was all right there and had been speaking to me while I was outside."

I love it!

I still haven't found out the "real" name of the Peasleeville Hermit. Everyone responding said they only knew him as John Tripp. Ron Robare said, "Tripp would sit around Denton's Store in Peasleeville with a shotgun sometimes." He added, "A real interesting hermit of Peru was Elmore Elmore. He would walk around Peru Village on a hot summer day wearing a heavy overcoat and hat. He would buy his dog a fancy sandwich at the Peru Tavern and feed it to the pet on the sidewalk."

I wondered if local folks confused Elmore with Tripp.

CHIPS REMEMBERED
The topic about peeling potatoes brought feedback out of the woodwork, especially family members and friends who remember Miller's ABC Potato Chips in Brushton. Bob Miller wrote to say, "November 1, 1974 was the last day we made potato chips, both Kitchn' Cooked and Miller's."

Norm Garrand remembers Miller's very well and says, "The building is still there where they made those delicious chips. They also had the best gourmet popping corn around."

Monica Emery writes, "Our Dannemora book club read 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' and it was the first book so far that all of the members agreed was a very good read."

My column about Cynthia Cline Newgarden of Plattsburgh being an original "Quiz Kid" on the radio in 1940 brought many people saying, "Oh, that was my favorite show!"

Cynthia sent me a nice handwritten note of appreciation for throwing the spotlight her way.

Jan Miller from St. Lawrence County loved my reference to the "runcible spoon" and said, "I used to read 'The Owl and the Pussycat' to my son when he was little. I was also curious about a runcible spoon and came to believe it was one that was serrated on one side, such as you might use to eat a grapefruit out of the half-shell."

Kevin Kieff, regional director of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Parks, saw my August column on goose control at Cole's Creek State Park. He wrote a most complimentary letter that I appreciated immensely.

Keep those cards and letters coming in. 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.