HELOISE Mail from readers tells many a strange tale

Dear Friends: We printed a letter about strange things that come into this office via mail and asked our readers what were the strangest things they had received through the mail. Here are some of the really great letters:
Ronda from Michigan says: "The strangest thing I ever received in the mail was my mother's ashes -- for my birthday. She had her body donated to science after she died from cancer. When they sent her remains to us, my father never had her properly buried. My sisters and I wanted to put her in a final resting place, so I kept after my father to send me her remains if he wasn't going to make any arrangements. He finally sent them, wrapped in a beach towel."
Ann in Austin, Texas, says: "There was a time when all of my mother's mail came to my address. Several years ago, I was somewhat surprised to find a communication to her congratulating her on the birth of her new baby and inviting her to subscribe to a magazine for new mothers. I got absolutely hysterical. This came five months after Mother's death at age 90!"
Ruth L. Burkholder of Harrisonburg, Va., says: "I received a pair of new white socks from a department-store chain. The letter accompanying it said, in effect: You haven't used your store credit card for so long, we wondered if your card got lost in your sock drawer."
Beth Rodwell of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., says: "Our friend was vacationing in Hawaii. He sent us a souvenir -- a coconut. It was in the green husk. He wrote our address in permanent marker on it and stapled the postage to it. No packaging, no box! Imagine!"
Hildegarde Busch of Rochester, N.Y. says: "I received a full-size tumbleweed from Wyoming. It is 24 inches high and 24 inches wide, with a circumference of approximately 75 inches. It was sent to us by our niece, who obviously has a great sense of humor. She lives in Cody, Wyo. It has proved to be quite a conversation piece in upstate New York."
Joyce H. Farr of Wayland, N.Y., says: "The strangest thing I ever received through the mail was a small, foil-wrapped chocolate heart, sent to me on Valentine's Day by my grandchildren Patrick and Elizabeth. It was alone in the business-size envelope and arrived safely in spite of a trip through the canceling machine."
Well, folks, you never know what might turn up in the mailbox, but please be kind to the postal workers and put things in proper packaging. If you have questions, please give the post office a call. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Those tins with popcorn are popular, but removing the sticky tape around the top is a chore. Not wanting to use one of the commercial goo removers, I recalled one of your articles suggesting cooking oil. I sprayed a paper towel with cooking spray, wiped around the edge and rim of the cover and was pleased at how quickly and easily it removed the sticky residue. Nancy Sheppard, Spring, Texas
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate