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.
Istanbul greetings (Türkiye)
My Lithuanian penpal Andreas visited Istanbul and sent this great multiview postcard of his travels there!
Miyazaki series 38/100 (California)
Perhaps one of hte most enduring secondary characters is the sublime Catbus/Nekobasu. Andy recognized it right away, and of course with Totoro standing nearby, it's a dead give away.
Miyazaki series 37/100 (California)
Ah, young love! This is from “The Boy and the Heron” which I didn't see. Why do I think this is a really sad movie?
science tout court (France)
Ce fin de semaine passé, deux amis sont venus nous rendre visite. Ils habite dans notre ancienne appartement, donc ils recoivent de temps en temps de la poste. Ils nous ont donné une carte de voeux du Noël et cette carte postale envoyée par Dominique le 21 décembre 2024. En fait, je ne suis pas fâché; par contre, j’en suis ravi! J’adore recevoir des cartes postales “en retard.”
Miyazaki series 36/100 (California)
This postcard is from the inimitable Salvo who demands, among other things, carbs galore for his breakfast. He writes, “Am I reaching for the stars!?” I can't imagine how anyone could think that!
This image is from “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”
Strasbourg (France)
Malheureusement, il a fait un chaleur insoportable en Alsace. Dominique écrit que pendant la journée, il a fait récemment 40C (104F)! Même pendant la nuit dans sa chambre, il a fait 28C (82F). Oof, les chaleurs comme ça sont vraiment un risque par la societé.
Miyazaki series 35/100 (California)
This postcard is from Only Yesterday, a film that I've neither seen nor heard of. Add it to the list!
Miyazaki series 34/100 (California)
It's so funny! Julian and Salvo write that this is “[a]ctual footage of [them] waving at [us] whenever [they] walk by [our] house in the neighborhood!” But this is actually footage of us waving at them whenever we walk by their house!
Where in Iceland?
My good friend Kay is in Iceland vacationing with her wife Peiyi and her sister Carol! I'm flattered they found the time and energy to share this charming postcard with me from their travels.
Miyazaki series 33/100 (California)
The coloring of this postcard was definitely what I first noticed! Julian and Salvo are having their house painted and are hoping for a similarly colorful outcome despite the current room-darkening scaffolding! Fingers crossed!
Adam loves Ben (Australia)
Matty send this card way back in late April! I have no idea why it took so long to get here, but I'm glad it did arrive. Hello!
Miyazaki series 32/100 (California)
Even though I've never seen the film, maybe I'm getting familiar with the art style now to recognize it at a glance. Salvo and Julian write that this is one of their favorites!
tarte flambée (France)
Voici la 150ème crate postale que j’ai reçu de Dominique (d’origine française)! Et quelle fête pour un numéro spécial: la tarte flambée que j’ai tellement aimé pendant mon séjour au Nord. La recette, pour eux qui en veulent:
Chop an onion and lightly fry in butter until brown. Mix with 40 cl. fresh cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Fry 80 g. of smoked lardons. Spread 150 g. of dough on an oven dish, and fill with the onion cream mixture. Baste with a tablespoon of colza oil and sprinkle with lardons. Bake in the oven at a high temperature.
wine picnic (Russia)
This postcard was a long time coming - it was sent on May 23! I'm glad it arrived, though, because it's really beautiful and perfectly captures the summer vibe.
Miyazaki series 31/100 (California)
I definitely recognize this one from My Neighbor Totoro. I never quite understood the role of these little dust mites, though. They're cute and a bit creepy, but do they advance the plot? Maybe I'm asking the wrong question.
Miyazaki series 30/100 (California)
I don't feel so bad since Julian admits to not having seen this film either! It looks like a hoot, for sure.
Miyazaki series 29/100 (California)
I recognized this image immediately; it's from Ponyo, the only Miyazaki film I've seen (yet?) that I did not like. I just don't get it.
Chicago skyline (Illinois)
Emily and Carter are excited to see the new Jurassic Park movie and are hoping to get to the beach! It's already (!!) mid-July so they'd better make it happen before summer slips completely out reach! What plans do you have for summer before it's over?
Miyazaki series 28/100 (California)
This one is definitely, to me anyway, about Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Also, I learned on the back of this postcard about “Tempranillo tummy.” Who among us…?
Miyazaki series 27/100 (California)
Already you can see a big animation difference between this film (My Neighbors the Yamadas) and the other films we've seen so far.