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.
pre-Christmas virtual PostCrossing MeetUp (Finland)
I’m so puzzled at how the Finnish PostCrossing group can produce postcards for the virtual meetup that have signatures, stamps, and icons on the back?! Usually at a meetup — at least those I’ve attended in the US - we have a pre-printed postcard with a blank back. We then spend lots of time (it’s quite tedious, which is why I don’t go anymore) signing or stamping the dozens (hundreds?) of postcards that the members have bought. Some people will buy 100 postcards and want each one to be stamped/signed by each of the attendees. I know these are hot collector’s items for the senders and receivers, but my hand cramps and I get tired doing the same thing over and over.
Maybe if I could figure out how the Finnish PostCrossers do it, I would be more inclined to go!
the smallest biggest city in the world (Indiana)
Don’t let me weird title conventions mislead you; this postcard’s tagline refers to San Francisco. Nozomi picked this card up somewhere she can’t remember but of course thought of me. She asks my opinion - is it true? It’s a good question! Many people are surprised at how small SF’s population is (just over 800,000 last I checked, which makes it only the 17th largest city in the US). It has a very outsized footprint for its small population! It certainly has world-renown. I think if you asked the average non-US person to name a US city, it would be in the top five. I think it would be named before Chicago even which is the third largest city in the US. What do you think?
dogs playing (Michigan)
This terrific vintage postcard comes from our niece Emily and her boyfriend Carter, who said it made them think of Pinot. I do believe these are poodles! I’m very grateful for the postcard and their thoughtfulness!
December 2023 Finnish PostCrossers MeetUp
It must have been in sitting down to send a few postcards, that Jussi sent the previous one. This one was sadly damaged in transit and came in a plastic envelope with a note from the Finnish postal service apologizing for the damage. It’s hard to be upset given how much mail arrives in pristine condition! Accidents happen.
October 2023 Finnish PostCrossers MeetUp
I’ve been to two or three meetups with other PostCrossers, but my penpal Jussi goes to several! This one is from the October 24, 2023 meetup. He apologized for delaying in sending it, but I’m always happy to receive postcards, especially delayed and forgotten ones!
handmade Studio Ghibli (California)
Every quarter, I offer to send postcards to my students to bring them a little brightness. Most people nowadays receive only bills and advertisements in the mail, so getting some real mail can be a delight. Sometimes, my students reciprocate, and few so excellently as Sky, who hand-drew this Totoro postcard!
watercolor cherries (Russia)
Natasha, also a teacher, sent me this delicious postcard featuring my second-favorite fruit!
le Palais du Pharo, Marseille (France)
Au sud de France, je n’ai visite nulpart que Marseille. Je suis completement d’accord avec Dominique qui écrit que “c’est une ville… très cosmopolite” Je l’ai adoré quand je l’ai visité en 2005. Voici le Palais du Pharo, cadeau de Napoléon III.
dining room, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (Minnesota)
You don’t need to turn this postcard over to see that it’s Frank Lloyd Wright. The ceiling detail, the vase, and the straight-backed chairs say loud and proud who the architect is. Our friend Lauren sent this from her first trip to the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio; I haven’t visited this one, but I have visited Fallingwater. It’s gorgeous!
Death Valley (California)
Matt spent a week in Death Valley for a photography workshop. I’ve been lucky to receive so many postcards sent by Matt. He writes here “I almost can’t believe I’ve been in the Bay Area so long w/o making the trip here.” I haven’t been to Death Valley, either, and I’ve been here almost as long as he has!
The Monastery at Petra (Jordan)
My penpal Lino went to Jordan recently on his honeymoon and sent this postcard. I have never visited Jordan, but of course I’ve seen images of Petra so many times. Some day I hope to be able to visit it!
Forbidden City watercolor (California)
One of my students this quarter sent me this terrific watercolor of the Forbidden City in China. What a great postcard to receive!
Marseille (France)
Malheureusement, mon ami Dominique est rentré de ses voyages à Marseille et Madéire malade du COVID. Comme moi, il a eté 4 fois vacciné et aussi a déjà eu la CoVID. Il écrit que cette fois est l’épisode la plus fort. :-( Moi aussi j’ai eu le CoVID cet an, en septembre. Ce n’était pas si grave pour moi, donc je suis désolé entendre que Dominique ait gravement suffert.
“Reed Reading Upside Down” (Oregon)
Long time readers of my blog should experience no surprise to learn that this postcard was sent by our dear friend Linda, who always picks the best postcards. This one is absolutely no exception to that rule.
“Reed Reading Upside Down, Amenia, NY, 2013” photograph by Rodney Smith
Salvation Mountain (California)
What a bonkers place this looks like! Our friends Greg and James visited Palm Springs and made a visit to Salvation Mountain, which they described as “peak tweaker culture.” I can' only imagine! LOL
Monterey and Carmel (California)
I received this postcard weeks ago but I’m only just now getting around to posting it. Kimee was running a race in Monterey and found this delightful, illustrated postcard of one of the most beautiful spots along the California coast.
Bryce Canyon National Park (California)
You’re right - Bryce Canyon isn’t in California; it’s in Utah! But the postcard was sent from California by our dear friends Cynthia and Tracy. We were lucky to host them this past weekend for a friends’ gathering.
“State Capitol in Boston (Massachusetts)
I was tickled by the phrase in the center of the postcard “State Capitol in Boston” as it’s written without the article. Then I saw “State Flower the Mayflower or Arbutus” which also lacks the expected definite article. Nozomi was in Boston for a conference and sent this delightful postcard my way.
el oso y el madroño (Spain)
Every time we get another postcard from Spain, I wonder if it’s the last one - but Julian and Salvo continue to come through with these terrific postcards, this one announcing their moving to Spain. Having visited myself, I can’t blame them!
the Mosque of the Janissaries (Greece)
Rena, in Greece, writes that this Mosque of the Janissaries is the most recognizable buildings on the entire island of Crete! I can’t wait to go and see it (the mosque and the island) for myself!