The Postal Service

No, I’m not talking about the band. I’m talking about International Postcard Day! And, of course, a dozen of us celebrated it down here with an Event! To be entirely honest, I’m not entirely sure if it was on the day because there’s another one being put on by different folks today in Bryan of all places. That, and I don’t actually know when the day is. Sure, I could consult the nigh-infinite depths of the library we call the Intertubes (well, I call it that), but that smacks of effort. All that really mattered it that a bunch of us took it as a chance to gather together and have a few beers and talk about whatever. Our hosts even made semi-official looking postcards for us as gifts. But it made me think of something I don’t normally talk about, primarily because it has no bearing on my day to day caching.

For a number of years, I’ve been sending friends postcards from the road. I’ve mentioned it in passing a few times I believe, but it’s just a little thing I do. I stop somewhere along the way, usually at somewhere touristy, grab a couple, and then write them as I’m looking at something or eating some food somewhere. I’ve written them in some of the most interesting places: the Grand Canyon, the geographical center of the US, Disneyland in Hell… I’ve also written them in boring places: Lincoln, Cheyenne, at a random point on the old Lincoln Highway. I only recently learned that one I sent from Aspen has yet to arrive, so I’m not entirely happy with their postal service at the moment, especially since I dropped in a box right outside the county courthouse. I know it’s a bit silly and antiquated, but who doesn’t like getting something from some far off place that isn’t a bill or an ad? Who doesn’t like to know that someone you theoretically care about is enjoying themselves far away and took the time to think of you? Sure, in the age of camera phones, you can send a message or picture instantly, but it’s not the same, even if it is more convenient (I often have trouble finding postcards in this day and age). But I challenge all of you: next time you travel, get a sheet of postcard stamps (about five bucks) and a couple of postcards wherever you and send something back home, perhaps to friends, perhaps to yourself. I recommend friends all day long because some of the friends I send to travel to Hawaii fairly regularly and internationally on occasion so I often get postcards in return from places I’ve never been (though give me time!). Trust me. It’s worth the time and money and pays off in random sprinklings of joy. Or some kind of crap like that!