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.
Vancouver skyline (British Columbia)
This beautiful Vancouver skyline arrive courtesy of Ray, who was celebrating his husband’s birthday in Vancouver recently. I haven’t been to British Columbia, and I would really love to travel there very soon. I’m sure Ray would have lots of great recommendations for us.
Malaysian delicacies
This postcard comes from Nurul in Malaysia and depicts two specialties: “Cendul is a sweet dessert while rojak is a bit spicy.” What little I’ve had of Malaysian cuisine is delicious; I hope to try much more!
la Maison des Tanneurs (France)
Dominique m’envoie cette vue de la Maison des Tanneurs, un des bâtiments les plus emblématiques de l’Alsace. Il écrit que plusiers chefs d’État ont y allé, mais lui - il n’y est jamais été! Peut-être quand Andy et moi y allions, nous les quatre pourrons y se rencontrer!
Kiwi Haka (New Zealand)
Our neighbors traveled to New Zealand recently and sent this postcard of the Kiwi Haka, “Queenstown’s leading Kapa Haka group.” We were in New Zealand ourselves way back in 2008; I’m trying to remember if we saw a live Haka while we were there?
hand drawn tulips (California)
We were lucky to host Cynthia and Tracy at our place two weeks ago for brunch, to which they brought a beautiful bouquet of tulips. A week later, this thank-you postcard arrived, complete with a hand drawn bunch of tulips! When I say these two are among the most thoughtful people I know, I mean it!
midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Oregon)
Even after suffering a health issue, Linda managed to send this beautiful postcard from Portland! The image reminds me of the book cover for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. This is the Bird Girl sculpture by Sylvia Shaw Jackson.
bill postcard (Michigan)
Our niece works at a restaurant in Detroit that hands out this postcard with the bill (something I truly love in a restaurant!). This time, she took one with her and sent it to me. It’s very appropriate that a Detroit restaurant should hand out postcards of the Supremes!
quilted greetings (California)
I’m not sure the scan of this will do it any justice, but Cynthia and Tracy sent this beautifully hand-quilted postcard (note that she even sewed the two stamps on!). What a great keepsake to receive from two dear friends!!
Donner Party memorial (California
Our friend Michael traveled to Tahoe recently with some friends to celebrate his birthday. Apparently, this memorial marks the depth of the snow when the Donner Party was stuck in Truckee!
Casa Battló (Spain)
Our friends Kay and Pei traveled to Barcelona on vacation recently; we were thrilled to give a few recommendations of places to visit. In exchange, they sent this beautiful postcard of Barcelona featuring super cute dogs!
watercolor pool (Canada)
Ray always sends the best postcards and this one is no exception! There are some terrific stickers on the back, too!
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Jiufen (Taiwan)
A former student of mine went back to Taiwan this winter break to vote in the national elections that we read so much about. While there, she took the time and effort to send me this beautiful postcard of Jiufen, a very famous tourist spot in Taiwan. I haven’t been, but I’ve always wanted to go. We’ll go on our next trip back to Taiwan, I’m sure!
Blick auf das Terrassenufer (Germany)
Our friends Tobias and Philipp were back in Germany for the holidays and took the time to send this great postcard from their stay in Dresden. I appreciate the winter-theme of the postcard sent during winter, more so because Winter in California is a bit drab and rainy without any pretty snow (I don’t miss living in the snow, but I do miss seeing it from time to time).
“Die Schlucht” (Germany)
Here’s a postcard coming from a sender in Germany. The colors are really something! It’s a painting called “Die Schlucht” by Rik Wouters (1882 - 1916).
seaside painting (Oregon)
Cindy sent this beautiful postcard from her place in western Oregon, not far from the seaside.
virgin piña colada (California)
Dima sends this recipe for an alcohol-free (or “virgin”) piña colada. What perfect timing for Dry January!
mountain man (California)
Hillary writes that this postcards depicts a family member, who “was a great mountain man of [her] town.” What a great feature to have a family member on a postcard!
wood ibis and whooping crane (Michigan)
Unfortunately, these birds are not native to Michigan as the title of this post may imply. Rather, they live in Florida, but the postcard was sent by my niece and her boyfriend who live in Detroit! She sends memories of our fantastic New Year's celebration last year!
watercolor sea lion (California)
People often confuse sea lions and seals. San Francisco is lucky to boast both kinds of sea mammals in its water, but the ones that most people think of with SF are sealions, which have colonized part of Fisherman’s Wharf for a few decades now. Small wonder that a local stationer should stock watercolor postcards of such an emblematic animal! Thanks to Kimee for sending this great reminder.