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.
Sherald thank-you (California)
What a lovely thank-you card from our dear friends Kimee and Michael, who joined us for an Alsatian meal last week to celebrate our return to a safe and happy puppy (thanks to them)!
Plaça de l’Ajuntament (Spain)
I love receiving these cards from J&S after their trip; although it was unbearably hot in Valencia, they enjoy their time at the Gay Games and were even able to march in the Parade of Nations!
Niagara Falls multi view (Canada)
Our nephew Walter wrote us this great card from his time in Canada, passing through they stopped in Niagara and visited the falls and a water park.
porch anniversary (Canada)
My penpal Ray had the brain space to send us a lovely anniversary card, including this romantic image. There’s something about the houses that gives me Pittsburgh vibes; was that deliberate?
French duo
These two postcards arrived from Dominique in an envelope, since the Stoffgemeinschaft postcard had text on the back that didn’t leave room for an address or stamp. In this postcard he asks about our Top 3 experiences from our France trip. It’s a good question!
NYC skyline at night
Mom really enjoyed her trip to NYC with my little brother and his family last month. She found the Statue of Liberty — a bucket list item for her — to be “an awesome experience.”
figura en una finestra (Spain)
I suppose the title is exactly what we’re looking at. J&S enjoyed the Reina Sofia and enjoyed the art from Dalí, Picasso, and my favorite Miró.
figure en una finestra, 1925
Salvador Dalí
Palacio Real (Spain)
I’m fairly certain these postcards and this art style are AI-generated but I do love them so much. It’s clean and identifiable at the same time. You know when there’s something you don’t want to like but you do anyway?
gazpacho (Spain)
Gazpacho is such an essential component of Spanish cuisine to me, I wonder what it looked like before the introductions of tomatoes from the new world. What was it made from then?
Spanish strongman
Julian and Salvo traveled to Spain to compete in the Gay Games but still found time to send these great postcards!
Niagara Falls (Canada)
The last time that I or my mother were in Niagara Falls was back in 2000, when my penpal Eulàlia visited me for a month! I remember drove to Niagara Falls and took some photos, and I realized while I was there that I had forgotten my ID. I was in a foreign country without ID, but back then it was so easy to cross the border back and forth. Mom writes that the area has built up quite a bit since we were there 25+ years ago.
Stuttgart (Germany)
Lino, my penpal, is on a trip to Stuttgart visiting his daughter. They had a good time being together and enjoying the summer weather, which always brings good moods!
Hockey’s our game! (Canada)
My brother took his family to New York City, passing through Ontario on their way from Michigan. They spent some time at Niagara Falls, from which our nephew sent us this postcard. He even is playing hockey now, too!
new federal housing (Oregon)
I love this postcard so so much. Linda knows how to find them! All I can think of is: this is the future that liberals want.
Statue of Liberty (New York)
My little brother took his family to Connecticut and New York with my mother; now she’s asking me what I’m planning to do for her!
carte des vins d’Alsace (France)
Here’s another of the postcards I sent to Andy as thanks of organizing the great trip we had in Alsace and Burgundy. We had a terrific time tasting wines, eating food, and meeting people.
midsummer meetup (Finland)
My dear penpal Jussi sent me this postcard from a virtual MeetUp in Finland. I’m always impressed with how so many people attend and put their signatures on it!
“l’équilibre perdu" (France)
Dominique m’a envoyé cette carte postale de cet artiste qui a ouvert une exposition de son art juste à côté de l’hôtel où nous sommes restés à Strasbourg.
carte des vins de France
I sent this postcard to Andy while we were in France doing some lovely wine tasting in both Alsace and Burgundy. It’s a nice reminder of our trip together.