A card that has been haunting me since 1996 is now in my hands!

Today, finally, a wrong that I made in 1996 has been righted. Back then, I was already collecting for 8 years and should have known better...but, hey, it was 5th grade. I remember it like it was yesterday. I opened a pack of 1995-96 Upper Deck Series II in school. I got the one-per-pack Electric Court card of David Robinson...and I traded it just about instantly. What was I thinking? I don't trade cards that were not duplicates! I never have, I never will...but that day...I did. It was the only time in my life I had a card as part of my collection and then no longer did. Even though it was only part of my collection for a couple of minutes...it's been haunting me ever since.

I realized my mistake shortly after. By then, it was too late. The person I traded it to would not trade it back to me. For 22 years now, I have been after this card. I came up short every time. I've been looking for many years. As near as I can tell, COMC has never even had a copy for sale!

I had actually sort of given up hope that I would ever find it. I figured, a card that's one per pack shouldn't be so hard to find, but it was.

Until today. I got a PWE from Jason German yesterday, who I met through the Trading Card Database, but he also runs the Hoarding Cardboard blog. I didn't open it yesterday, so I could use it for my Card of the Day today. And what a card it was!

There is was...a copy of the only card I ever had and no longer did...I can't say that anymore! This card is now part of my collection again, and this time...there's nothing that could make me trade this card.

I am actually kind of in shock a little bit about finally having this back/again. It's been so long...it doesn't seem real somehow. I am almost afraid I'm going to wake up again and it will have been a dream. (Yes, I have been known to dream about cards)

Provided this is real, and not a dream, don't be too surprised to see this card get the nod as my favorite new addition of January when I do my Top 12 cards of 2018 on December 31st.

That wasn't all Jason sent, however. He knows I have an addiction to serially numbered cards...I really do. He sent along one for me, and even though it's not one of my main sports, I will still gladly add it to my collection!

According to my stats chart, this is the 28th serially numbered NFL card in my collection, but at 35, is far and away the lowest print run. I like the fact that there is a real photo on the card, not a cutout of the player in front of some fake computer generated backdrop. It's also a new set for my collection, which I appreciate.

Jason, I can't thank you enough. I don't know if you knew how much this card means to me, but it really does.