This is Vanese Ferguson with Coffee Talk. I have to admit one of my probably odd pleasures in life is going through actual physical flyers. And even more so – a catalogue because I grew up in the era of the Sears Christmas Wishbook. A much-cherished book of all the things a little girl’s heart could dream of. There are a few businesses that still generate a catalogue albeit on a much smaller scale and I tuck those away until I can sit uninterrupted to take a good gander. But have you ever heard of Hammacher Schlemmer? I would probably to this day, not ever have heard of Hammacher Schlemmer, if it weren’t for our former, and much missed, CJWW morning anchor Gord Wiebe. I found out about their catalogue after he and I exchanged plans for Christmas which included whether or not to put up a tree. Gord says he always puts one up and it is pre-lit, it’s pre-decorated and fits in a box. Yep, you got it. The collapsible Christmas tree. and he got it from Hammacher Schlemmer well before anyone else had a sniff it existed. Weird the stuff you remember. the elevator at Eatons or Mcleod’s where you could find everything from hardware to clothing. I can remember how the Army and Navy smelled in Moose Jaw. It had the huge staircase that wound from the basement to the top floor where women’s clothing and Italian shoes were located. I can still remember the stools at Kresge’s lunch counter with old fashion milkshakes and chairs that spun round and round, and many folks probably aren’t familiar with Joyner’s. Oh man I loved going in that store. It had a cash cable system where you would go to the counter with your purchase, the clerk would put a handwritten receipt and your money inside and send it on its way to the back of the store where some mystery person put in your change and send it back to you. I sure miss the days of the Christmas wish book