United Nations flag (Indiana)

This card comes from my penpal Nozomi, whom I met when we were both in grad school back in Pittsburgh over a decade ago! It was during that time that she got this postcard on a trip to New York City, and the United Nations. She writes that she’d been saving it for a special occasion and figured my birthday was one such (and it arrived right on time!). I’m flattered that I might receive such a beautiful postcard from so long ago. What a real gift! Thank you, friend!

South Shore, Lake Tahoe (California)

I’m not posting this lovely vintage postcard until just now, but I received it in advance of my birthday from my friend Alex! What great timing! I have only been to Lake Tahoe once and it was in winter when it certainly looked much like this. I have always wanted to revisit, especially in the summer. Maybe next year!

morning cup of joe (Washington)

Of all the icons of Seattle, coffee must be among the very first or second (behind the Space Needle, I suppose?). It’s perfectly fitting then that I should receive this postcard from someone living not far from Seattle. It’s a great city and I highly recommend a visit!

Men’s Quadrangle (Indiana)

I’m not sure why it never occurred to me to seek out vintage postcards of Stanford, but this postcard from my penpal Nozomi was a great reminder to do so! This feature of the University of Indiana is currently called “Wright Quadrangle” but in days past it was known as the Men’s Quadrangle. I wonder when it made its gender-inclusive transition and what prompted it? Of course, I also wonder whether there was a Women’s Quadrangle?

marriage equality (Australia)

These three postcards arrived in a plastic envelope; at first I thought they might be damaged, as this is a technique the USPS uses when a postcard has been damaged during transit. However, I found instead that this was a clever technique from the sender to include more than one postcard in a single mailing!

junk mail (Indiana)

I wonder if I care less about junk mail because I receive so much genuine mail that’s addressed to me by a real person? I truly think that most Americans receive 95% junk mail and bills, and so the mail is offensive and a hassle, or at best, boring. But for me, I can easily deal with the junk mail because I know it’ll be outweighed by the real stuff.

So that my penpal and former classmate Nozomi would send this postcard is a true delight. I laughed out loud when I received it. Maybe this postcard is made specifically for snail-mailers like Nozomi and me? In any case, it’s a real gift.

Wagner Falls (Michigan)

Recently, two of our niblings traveled to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to visit some waterfalls and go camping. I haven’t been to the UP since my penpal came to visit way back in 2000, so it’s been absolutely ages! They write that they did some hiking and visited Pictured Rocks (which I’ve never visited). Maybe Andy and I will take a summer drive through the UP some time?

Black Forest Cuckoo Clock Shoppe (Oregon)

Continuing her fine tradition of fantastic cards not from her home area, Linda has sent this beautiful card of the Black Forest Cuckoo Clock Shoppe. I’ve never been, but I’ll bet it’s a fun place to visit!

This card reminds me of the Black Forest Cake I earlier this summer, which I might make a return to. It was really delicious, and I’m still putting the left over boozy cherries in my cocktails.

Opavian Silesia (Czechia)

This extra long postcard arrived via PostCrossing but unfortunately the sender didn’t write much in the message. It seems like a waste of real estate? Sometimes there’s so much to say but a postcard only has so much room (sometimes this is a feature - pro tip: if you host a big event and expect to send thank-you notes, such as a wedding or graduation party, print up postcards with your image! You can save on time in writing the thank-yous by getting right to the heart of your gratitude, and save postage if you’re sending the postcards domestically).

Groeten van Texel (Netherlands)

Comme Dominique, mon ami à cartes postales, écrit bien: plein de PostCrosseurs collectionnent les cartes de phares. C’est pour ça qu’il m’en a envoyé une et je l’adore! J’ai déjà écrit ici que mon état de jeunesse a le nombre le plus grand de phares de tous les états américains. En plus, il y a quelque chose de très romantique quant aux phares, même si la vie là-bas n’est pas de tout un cadeau.

Merci à Dominique pour m’envoyer cette carte qui me plaît beaucoup. Elle est aussi la première carte des Pays-Bas que j’ai reçue de lui.

gymnasts have to eat (California)

This terrific postcard arrives from my penpal and friend Janie who wondered if I might like this for my collection. I absolutely would!! It’s a bit strange, very funny, and it overall nice to look at! Thank you, thank you!

the Sea Ranch Chapel (California)

This is an iconic image of one of the most beautiful parts of coastal California: Sea Ranch. We were lucky to spend a few days there with our friends several years ago and it was truly magnificent. The craggy coast and crashing waves with the tall, proud trees and the San Andrea Faultline that runs clearly and evenly through the forest. There’s a great discovery trail you can walk, which I highly recommend! We even saw some elusive river otters on our walk, and of course plenty of banana slugs. What made it so fantastic was the complete and utter lack of cell phone service.

Thanks to Greg and James for this memory of a great weekend now so many years past.

Glenn Bishop (California)

This thank-you postcard comes from our friend Julian and Salvo! It’s really terrific for a number of reasons:

1. the man is truly beautiful - apparently Glenn Bishop was quite the model in the mid-20th century and could be found in many magazines

2. the setting is Grand Haven which is not far from where my little brother lives, and is of course in my home-state of Michigan

vin du Collignon (Ohio)

This style of advertising posters is so iconic and charming. I wonder what the world looked like when all advertisers were looking for something so unique and vivid to get the word out about their wares? This postcard comes from a person in Ohio who shared a great toast with me, which I’m sharing here:

Here’s to your enemy’s enemies; may their triumph be complete.

And may their foes - thus your foes too - soon fall beneath their feet!

galette charentaise (France)

Voici une carte de mon ami Dominique qui pense aux cartes postales même pendant ses vacances! Ici vous voyez une recette pour la galette charentaise, très fameuse de la région. Il faudra que j’essaie à la préparer!

wine country (California)

This fantastic postcard arrived from our dear friends Matt and Katelyn, who took a recent trip to wine country to celebrate their wedding anniversary. We often enjoy tasting wine with them, both locally in San Francisco and further afield in wine regions nearby. We’re looking forward to a return to such outings very soon!

Alde Gott (Germany)

Moi, j’organize numériquement les cartes postales premièrement par pays et puis par expéditeur. C’est pour ça que cette carte postale ne parait êttre que la quatrième de mon ami Dominique. Par contre, j’en ai reçu plus de 60 cartes postales de lui!

Celle-ci vient de son dernier voyage en Allemagne, juste à l’autre côté de la frontière avec Alsace (qui, avant - bien sûr - n’était pas de tout la frontière, mais là c’est un leçon d’histoire pour un autre moment). Il m’écrit qu’Alde Gott et le nom d’une coopérative viticole très connue. Il y a très longtemps qu’Andy et moi pensons voyager en Alsace et Allemagne, Suisse, et l’Autriche pour la dégustation de vins. Donc, j’ai bien aimé recevoir cette jolie carte postale.

“Opera & Ballet” 2007 (Russia)

This postcard comes via Postcrossing, but the really great thing is that it is a print of a painting done by the sender himself! This depicts the Opera and Ballet Theater in Novosibirsk, which is the largest theater building in Russia. Fantastic!

l’Hermione (France)

Voici une carte postale du bateau l’Hermione, qui est très célèbre non pas seulement dans sa France native, mais aussi parmis le monde entier. Elle a déjà visité plusiers pays, les États-Unis inclus. Il y a une marina ici à San Francisco mais on ne voit presque jamais des bateaux comme ceci. On peu bien les voir dans la Parque Nationale Maritime à San Francisco où se trouve la Balclutha.

two views of Giovinazzo (Italy)

These two postcards arrived a few weeks ago from a new penpal of mine named Lino who lives in Giovinazzo, in the province of Bari in Italy. These views look absolutely stunning; I’d love to visit some time! It reminds me a bit of the Greek islands we visited a few years ago, especially the seaside postcard.

Since they were tucked into a letter that he wrote me, I wasn’t sure what to do with them; keep them with the letter or display them in my postcard collection? On the one hand, if they’re in the envelope with the letter, I’m unlikely to see them again for a long time. On the other hand, if I incorporate them into my postcard collection, they’ll get separated from the letter they came with. What to do?