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.

Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Toscano Hotel Bar (California)

Our good friends Tracy and Cynthia joined us on our trip to the Mendocino Coast earlier this month and sent this postcard from one of their day trips, on which they took Pinot so we could go to lunch at a nice restaurant!

Toscano Hotel Bar, circa 1913. Established in the late 1890’s [sic] and was purchased… in 1911. Alfred Falleri is behind the bar, William Hale is the tall man, William Isaacson is in front.

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

wooden Mendocino octopus (California)

Andy gave me permission to scan this postcard, which he received (from me) in thanks for planning a terrific trip to Mendocino coast with four friends. He’s so good about sending me postcards when he’s away that I thought I’d send one while I was away (even if he was with me at the same time)!

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beautiful Oregon state

This multi-view comes from a former resident of San Francisco who says she paid just $400/month for a 4-bedroom apartment on Arguello back in the 1970s! What an incredible dream!

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if Santa gets stuck… (Michigan)

I do love a holiday postcard (as in a holiday card)! This vintage one comes with a signature at the bottom - perhaps “Mr. and Mrs. Chase B. Bryer”? Luckily, the back was blank so Emily and Carter could send their holiday wishes to me and Andy and Pinot!

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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!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

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?

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

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!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

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.

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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“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

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More to come from the past…