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.
Ovid Winery (California)
One of the (many) problems with my blog is that the scans don’t represent the physicality of these postcards. The last one from Napa was one such beautiful, heavy card stock. This one is a ginormous card (14x21 cm) and it mailed with just a simple postcard stamp!
bear series 5/12
I sent this postcard to thank Andy for organizing a great Saturday during which we attended Hella Chenin, had Peruvian food for lunch, and then congratulated our friend and barber on his new salon!
Adam Likes Sun Lotion
Yoshitani series 47/100
Today I learned about the Palace Theater in Chinatown, just a few days after Julian and Salvo learned about it!
Tiger Speak No Evil
From the Artist’s Collection
Yoshitani series 46/100
Julian and Salvo write about a documentary about an architect named Schindler that they really enjoyed!
Ishtar
Iraq, Mesopotamian Mythology
Senza Hotel (California)
Julian and Salvo sent this great postcard from a weekend trip they took to Napa, which was overcast but beautiful nonetheless.
Yoshitani series 45/100
We wowed our dear friends with some photos of an incredible opportunity we had to taste some very vintage wines, including a 1976, 1978, 1991, 2000, and 2010 Chardonnay, as well as a 1981 Zinfandel!
The Magic Skin
Mythological Archetype
the Sphere (California)
Amazingly, Han also took this photo! Too bad the postmark marred the upper portion of it, but the composition is still quite striking. Well done!
Yoshitani series 44/100
Julian and Salvo write about the Decorator Showcase and highly recommend it. We’ll have to find time!
Hun Hunahpu
bear series 4/12
Sometimes some clothing is better than none, yeah?
Hot Bear
Jason Lloyd Art
one more Garden of the Gods (Colorado)
Mom sent one last glimpse of the beautiful Garden of the Gods which she visited last month while seeing my nephew, her grandson.
bear series 3/12
I don’t think I would have believed you twenty years ago if you’d told me that “chubby” would be a word of praise instead of disdain. But here we are!
Chubby Pop Art
Jason Lloyd Art
Hoover eclipse (California)
I found a kinship with a student this quarter, Han, who is not just a HAM radio enthusiast, but also a snail mail enthusiast. We share a love for postcards and letters; add to that, her talent for photography and you have one quite impressive person! She took this photo during the total lunar eclipse at 3:30a on 3 March 2026. Really cool!
another garden, another god (Colorado)
There have been so many Gedas in Colorado recently; my mom and dad went to visit my nephew and his wife, and they too visited the Garden of the Gods. Beautiful!
bear series 2/12
Here’s the second in the series. This one is called “Causing Tunnel” by Tony Cabralre.
cubbylicious (Australia)
Matty writes about planning a trip this November holiday season to places near his home in Australia. If this postcard doesn’t provide some inspiration, I’m not sure what will!
bear series 1/12
I decided to include Andy in the postcard series practice that Julian and Salvo started with the Miyazaki series and are continuing with the Yoshitani series. Here is the first in a planned series of 12 postcards that I’m sending to Andy.
just say the word (California)
I’ve actually been to this bookstore! It’s really charming and very historic. I highly recommend a visit if you’re in London. The postcard itself comes from a new penpal, Pauline, whom I met at WESTPEX 2026.
Yoshitani series 43/100
I was just speaking with someone from Peru this past week and they were talking about the Andean cultures there. What a great reminder of the diversity of these American continents!
Chaupí Ñamca
Peru, Huarochirí Mythology
Yoshitani series 42/100
When Julian and Salvo sent this postcard, the weather was teasing them with some sunshine and warmth but by the time it arrived, we were back in the normal weather for May: cool, gray, windy, overcast. I don’t mind it, but I know it’s not for everyone!
Ku’ula Stone Shrine
Hawai’i , Hawaiian Mythology