Here are the postcards!

I’ve been collecting postcards since 2008. Since then, I’ve sent and received over 1800 postcards from all over the US and dozens of countries. I respond to every postcard I receive, so I’m always open for private swaps.

My origin story: Back when I was a young boy, I got the idea to write a letter to several world leaders, but I only ever ended up writing the US president and the Queen of England. I was so tickled to receive responses from President Bush and then Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II! Well, they weren’t directly from the world leaders, but rather from their staff members. President Bush sent me an autographed photograph (which I lost later in a show-and-tell accident).

One of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting sent me a very detailed letter, typed on Buckingham Palace stationery, answering all of my questions about the Queen’s horses and her corgis and her favorite foods. I marveled at the strangely-sized paper, the texture of the embossed coat of arms centered at the top of the page, and the stamps on the envelope. A real person had spent time reading my letter, responding to it, folding it and placing it in an envelope, and then more real human beings had taken the time and effort to transport it from London to some mail distribution center, to an airport in England, to an airport in the US, and back through the various USPS chains until it arrived in a plastic mailbox at the foot of my driveway in southeast Michigan.

I’m still fascinated by this process today, and all for less than the price of some chocolate! So I maintain correspondence with about a dozen penpals across the world, and send and receive postcards. At last count, I have a little under 2,000 postcards that I’ve received. Keep scrolling to see the most recent postcards that have arrived in my mailbox.

Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar (Michigan)

Another great postcard from our niece Emily and her boyfriend Carter. They were staging in Chicago and visited several great restaurants. Among the restaurants they visited is this one. After the move to Chicago for work, I’m sure they’ll have many more opportunities to explore terrific establishments!

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Zeta Ophiuchi (Pennsylvania)

Lauren writes that after her father’s death, she found solace in old episodes of Cosmos with Carl Sagan, which they used to watch together. She very sweetly writes that the universe celebrates my late brother’s life through me. “We are made of star stuff,” indeed! Thank you, Lauren.

The postcard legend says: “The giant star Zeta Ophiuchi is 370 light-years from Earth. It is twenty times more massive than the Sun and eighty thousand times brighter.”

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falls of Columbia Gorge (Oregon)

My in-laws hosted an old friend from the East Coast this past week and they took a trip to see Multnomah Falls (top right). It was a rainy day in a rainy season, so the falls were particularly full!

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Paradigm Winery (California)

Our friend Julian and Salvo visited Paradigm Winery late last month and sent us this aerial view of the winery. We visited there almost a year ago and the wines are delicious! The tasting experience was very personal and informative, too!

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Chicago the City Beautiful (Illinois)

My dear friend sent me this postcard while in Chicago for a book-reading event (for her book! Yes, I am friends with published authors!). We took a vacation together to Chicago some time ago and it looms large in my memory as a truly beautiful weekend.

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David (California)

This postcard comes from our dear friends Tracy and Cynthia, who picked it up on their trip to Florence a while ago. The postcard is actually addressed to our dear “International Champion Pinot,” and on the back is a drawing of our poodle with a bandaid over his rear. “Get well soon!”

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thinking of [me] (California)

Ever the thoughtful one, Kimee sends this card with her sympathies and condolences. I am very grateful to her, and all of my other friends who are looking out for me and my family. Is there any power greater than the love and care of one’s chosen family?

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Estonia (California)

Our friends Julian and Salvo appear to be in the throes of Spring cleaning because this postcard they decided to send me from their collection. In addition, Julian decided to let go of his dear Boss sweater! I’m so glad to receive it, especially since I’m definitely obsessed with Estonian!

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postal flag (Oregon)

What a great postcard Linda sent! It’s of course the US flag but made out of domestic and foreign stamps, all cancelled!

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twins! (Oregon)

I can’t decide why the dalmatian looks so miserable! Maybe it’s because someone wore the same “outfit” as he did?! I wonder how Linda interprets it?

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animated Russia

I love this illustration style of maps with important people, foods, places, and phenomena superimposed on top! This postcard is a supreme example of the genre!

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More to come from the past…