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Maynard Guss Gives A Stamp of Approval For ASAP
By Jean Kinsey
Maynard Guss has a great memory for dates. He can tell you without hesitation that he was diagnosed with syringomyelia and Chiari 1 on February 6, 1963. Perhaps Maynard's extraordinary talent for facts and figures comes from working with the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, from which he was forced to retire Friday, July 4, 1988, when his health no longer permitted him to work at the job he loved.
He was pleased last week when his new Rascal scooter arrived. Maynard can still walk, but it is very painful. He looks forward to being able to go places and do things which, in the past, have proved to be painful or impossible.
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Maynard underwent a facet block September 4, 2002 for the pain in his thighs and feet. Most of his pain subsided soon afterward, but he will find out its true effectiveness at a two-week follow-up appointment. If the procedure was successful, Maynard will have anesthesia injected into the facet nerve near the pelvis once or twice a year. He says the pain of the procedure was minimal compared to the pain he has been experiencing. The doctors say this pain isn't from SM, but from arthritis.
A hobby Maynard enjoys with his wife, Flora, from their home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, proves to be lucrative for ASAP. The Gusses make annual contributions to ASAP from collecting stamps. Last year was their record high. The stamps collected by ASAP members and mailed to Maynard generated $1,100 in donations for our organization. When SM caused a weakening in Maynard's hands, it became an effort to use his stamp tongs, but Flora pitched right in, became interested in the hobby, and now helps with the difficult tasks.
Maynard stresses how important it is for us to leave a margin of the envelope around the stamps. Although they may look neater and less bulky, stamp collectors don't want a stamp with the perforations trimmed away. We should send whole postcards. Maynard and Flora sort the stamps and take them to the Hollywood Stamp Club where collectors buy some of them. They sell the remainder at auctions. Maynard has donated over $5,700 to ASAP in the past nine years!
Working with his stamps helps Maynard get through some tough days. He likes to keep busy when possible. He says some days he doesn't really feel up to working, but knowing he is contributing to ASAP's needs makes it worthwhile.
Maynard began collecting stamps more than five decades ago. He explained that a neighborhood boy introduced him to the wonderful world of stamp collecting when he was "just a little shaver," maybe eight or nine, and he has avidly committed himself to it since. Only at times such as when school or work added pressures has he not pursued his hobby. Maynard is now a real philatelist.
Get him started talking about stamp collecting, and he will give you a history lesson on postal, telegraph, and revenue stamps. One of Maynard's prize possessions is a Black Penny stamp. The Black Penny was created in Britain by Rowland Hill (known as his famous id Black) in 1840. This was the first government postal stamp ever.
Maynard applauds all of the volunteers in our organization. He says when potential donors look at the financial statements of any charitable group, they are pleased to see that most of the money goes directly to the cause rather than being used to pay numerous salaries. This can only be accomplished by the efforts of uncompensated volunteers.
The Gusses also enjoy raising parakeets and cockatiels. They hand-feed the babies so they will not be afraid of humans. This qualifies them to be better pets. The birds provide background music for Maynard's telephone conversations. Actually, they are quite harmonious and pleasing to the ear.
Feeling lucky to have the exceptional spousal support Flora offers, Maynard wonders how those without such a foundation manage. He wishes he could always be there for Flora like she is for him, but he realizes he would not be able to attend to her needs even if she were to come down with the flu. Doing his best to take care of his wife in sickness and in health, Maynard has provided her with the best insurance; he purchased a comprehensive policy which will pay for each of them to have excellent home health care in the event they need it. Flora and Maynard have no children.
Maynard chuckled when asked if people ever got confused and called him Gus instead of Maynard. He described a situation that took place just the other day. They were in the process of filling out some paperwork when the guy asked his last name. Flora said, "Guss."
The man said, "No, spell your LAST name, please."
Flora replied, "G U S S."
He shook his head. "No, I have that. I want your last name."
Maynard got a real kick out of telling that story.
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