Author Archives: Reed Sandridge

Day 262: Postmaster General Megan Brennan

Posted on September 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

This is my third letter to U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan. I also wrote to her on Day 51 and Day 135. For an organization whose passion is mail – I can’t say that I’m impressed with their ability to respond to mail sent to them. I never received any responses from my two previous letters and I probably wont receive one to this one either – and frankly I don’t care. I’d just be happy if she or someone on her team responds to Gary Minter.

Gary is the man who I wrote to on Day 260. I was touched by his open letter to the USPS that was published in Street Sense about the challenges he faces due to his housing status. It’s my hope that Gary gets a thoughtful responses from someone at the Post Office.

Day 262

Postmaster General Brennan,

Enclosed you will find an open letter that was published in Street Sense from a friend of mine experiencing homelessness. I don’t think Gary was able to send this letter directly to you but I trust that you will share it with the appropriate person on your staff who can reply. I can attest that these and similar challenges are things that those experiencing homelessness deal with every day.

Thank you for your attention to this matter,
Reed Sandridge

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Day 261: Chris

Posted on September 18, 2015 | Leave a comment

The VP of my department is always so thoughtful when she travels – she always brings back some wonderful little gift from wherever she was visiting. Her latest trip was to the Dolomites along the Italian Swiss border I’m guessing as I showed up to work one day and found a container of Hexensalz, salt blended with herbs and a tiny bit of chili to give it an enjoyable kick!

I rarely do this myself, not because I don’t think about others when I’m traveling but because I never know what to bring people. Somehow Chris knows what to get people. I love to cook to this was perfect.

She was out of the office today, but I left her a little thank you note on her desk.

Day261-2

Day261

Chris,

You know me well. I love the Hexensalz you brought back from the Dolomites. I’ve already used it twice – I sprinkled some on buttered bread for a spicy aromatic snack and last night used it to season some pan seared salmon – delicious! 

You are so thoughtful,
Reed

 

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Day 260: Gary Minter

Posted on September 17, 2015 | 5 comments

In a recent issue of Street Sense, I came across an open letter to the U.S. Post Office from a man named Gary Minter. He’s struggled with housing and doesn’t have a permanent address. Even using shelters and other agencies to receive mail for him causes challenges. Gary decided to write the post office and ask for their help to fix problems that anyone dealing with homelessness faces.

He has a “general delivery” address in Las Vegas where he is living right now – he used to be here in Washington, DC. I hope my letter gets to him.

Day260

Dear Gary,

I read your open letter in Street Sense about the unique challenges that you and other men and women experiencing homelessness face. In essence you are being discriminated against because you don’t have a permanent address.

I’m sure a solution to these issues exists, but will take time. Thank you for speaking out and trying to improve the system. Your letter has inspired me to cut your letter out of the paper and mail it to Megan Brennan, the Postmaster General.

I hope that Las Vegas is treating you well.

Good luck to you,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. Here are a few dollars – hopefully it helps.

 

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Day 259: Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico

Posted on September 16, 2015 | Leave a comment
photo: independent.co.uk

photo: independent.co.uk

Today is the 205th anniversary of the beginning of Mexico’s war of independence from Spain. I thought I would drop Mexico’s president a note to send my best wishes on the anniversary and also take advantage of the opportunity to find out who President Peña Nieto likes in our upcoming presidential election. I’ve got a feeling it’s not Trump, given his rather salty remarks about our neighbors to the south.

Day259

Mr. President,

I wanted to send you a letter to wish you and all of Mexico well today, the 16th of September, on the anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Mexico.

I lived for one year in the esteemed metropolitan city of Guasave, Sinaloa when I was a junior in high school – similar to the year you spent at Denis Hall Junior High in Maine. I love Mexico and the Mexican people.

I would be interested to know which 2016 candidate for president in the United States you feel is the best.

Kind regards from Washington, D.C.,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. I also studied at Tec de Monterrey (for one semester), but I was at the Mazatlan campus, which I don’t believe is at the same level as the Monterrey campus where you studied, but it was still an amazing experience. 

 

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Day 258: Anonymous letter left at Glen’s Garden Market

Posted on September 15, 2015 | 5 comments

I live near a great market/cafe called Glen’s Garden Market. They celebrated their two-year anniversary earlier this year. They’ve got lots of local produce and delicious sandwiches and salads, but they’ve also got great little bar that features all local beers that are all $4 all day long every day. Mmmm beer!

Anyway, I was over there today having lunch and talking to the owner Danielle who is making a really cool donation to a nonprofit that I help out with, and I decided to leave an anonymous letter some place in the market. I love their humus so I decided to put it in the cooler in front of the humus. I wish I’d captured a photo of the letter in the cooler but I thought people would see me putting the letter there, so I just left it there.

I decided to throw in a ten spot to brighten someone's day.

I decided to throw in a ten spot to brighten someone’s day.

Two things that everyone loves: free money and a handwritten letter. Get yourself some delicious local produce here at Glen’s, cook up something delicious and write someone who you’ve been meaning to reach out to – trust me, you’ll feel amazing!

Enjoy!

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