Back in the strange old days of the 1980's, there was no instant gratification from the internet or mobile phones.

So it became a game of great patience to receive news from the outside world about things I was interested in.

When I knew it was about time to receive my next issue of whatever newsletter, my anticipation grew. What would it contain? What would I learn about?

If there was any chance of a newsletter arriving on a particular day, I would go right home after school to check the mail.

The thing is, what constituted a newsletter?

The "newsletters" I am referring to may be considered by many to be periodicals or newspapers.

A couple of the newsletters I received were Inside Pitch (about the NY Mets and their farm system) and Metal Edge (about heavy metal bands).

To me these were newsletters.

They provided me with information I cared about. They spoke to my soul. I internalized every word, sometimes reading three or four times.

You may be asking why I think of these as newsletters.

I did receive magazines and more traditional periodicals. Those went directly to a pile on my desk to be read eventually (maybe).

But things like Inside Pitch and Metal Edge were so much more.

As soon as they arrived, I would read through them cover to cover. It didn't matter what else I needed to do. I read those things inside and out!

Hell, you probably could have tested me on the content.

So, these were newsletters to me. They spoke directly to me. They knew what I wanted, and they gave it to me.

It was like they were written specifically for me.

Which is why...