Author Archives: Reed Sandridge

Day 250: Michael Raymer

Posted on September 7, 2015 | Leave a comment
Screen Shot 2015-09-11 at 12.19.30 AM

photo: inquisitr.com

Last week I heard about a touching story of a mail carrier in Glendale, AZ who left his customers handwritten notes (one of them is shown here) informing them that he was retiring at the end of the month and telling them how much he enjoyed getting to know them over the years.

You can check out the story for yourself here.

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Michael,

Today is Labor Day and I thought it would be fitting to drop you a note – you’ve certainly worked hard throughout your career and deserve a day off. Thank you for both your military and civil service to our country.

I created a custom card for Michael

I created a custom card for Michael

I read about your handwritten note to your mail customers – that was very thoughtful. I particularly appreciated it because not only did I grow up next door to a postal carrier, but I also am a big fan of handwritten correspondence.

Do you have any special stories you would be willing to share about your work as a mail carrier. I imagine over the past 20 yrs you must have had some good ones!

Best of luck in your retirement!
Reed Sandridge

 

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Posted in Congratulations, You're Awesome!

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Day 248: Becky and Steve

Posted on September 5, 2015 | Leave a comment

This weekend two good friends are getting married. Becky and Steve are rare individuals who inspire me to lead my life to its fullest. They care…and not just about themselves or where to find the best vegetarian food in town, but they care about people they’ve never met, they care about the planet we’re stewarding for future generations and they care about their friends and family. I have to share too that Steve even works for an organization called CARE! It’s very fitting.

Anyway, tomorrow should be an amazing evening.

Day 248

Dear Becky and Steve, 

You’ve been asking about your letter – well here it is! I’ve waited until today, the eve of your wedding, to write to you.

For some reason people, and I include myself here, feel compelled to give advice to those who are getting married. Ironic that I feel this compulsion given the fact that I have never been married.

A few years ago, while browsing through an airport bookstore, I bought a book for my father. It’s called 30 Lessons for Living. It was written by Karl Pillemer, a professor at Cornell. He spent five years interviewing older Americans, aged 70-102, about the tried and true advice on life from our wisest members of our community.

Me, Becky and Steve. By the way, that's a vegan meal I bought at a food truck and proudly displayed. Steve and Becky inspired me to give up meat for the past four months.

Me, Becky and Steve at a concert Friday night. By the way, that’s a vegan meal I bought at a food truck and proudly displayed. Steve and Becky inspired me to give up meat for the past four months.

As I stated, I bought it for my Dad – he seemed to be struggling to find purpose and happiness after my mother died. But after reading it, I decided not to give it to him. I don’t know why – I guess I thought it was mostly for younger people, especially younger married couples. I decided to tuck the book away and save it for a special couple who lived their lives with intention and worked hard at being their highest self.

This book is for you – the advice contained within the pages of the book is based on the wisdom of those with far greater experience in life than me.

Congratulations on your marriage. You are both beautiful, thoughtful and generous. I enjoy the time we share together and value our friendship. Being a part of your lives and your wedding has great meaning for me.

Best wishes for tomorrow and every day after.
Reed

P.S. I’m working on a special wedding gift for you!

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Day 247: Glenn

Posted on September 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

I grew up in Mechanicsburg, PA. It’s a quiet suburb of Harrisburg. My family was strong and provided great role models. But sometimes you’re fortunate to have outside role models who take time to help you find your way through life. It could be a teacher, a coach or in my case, a boy scout leader.

To my knowledge Glenn was actually never an official leader while I was involved with Scouting. He was something like a scout leader emeritus. Anyway, he lived a few short blocks from my childhood home and was a great role model and friend to me.

I grew up, moved away and rarely visit Mechanicsburg now. We’ve sort of lost touch, but I thought he should know how much I appreciate that he took time to care about me and so many other young people in the community.

Thirty years later, he still answers the phone with the same familiar greeting, “Good evening, Glenn.”

Day 247

Dear Glenn,

I hope this note finds you well. I was thinking about people who have been and still are mentors in my life today and thought of you. You always led by example on how to be a friend, a husband, a father. I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me – despite how lousy I am at staying in touch. I will be in Mechanicsburg the weekend of Sept. 25th and would love to find time to visit. I’ll call/email as we get a little closer.

Love,
Jason

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Posted in Just because, You're Awesome!

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Day 246: Amorde

Posted on September 3, 2015 | Leave a comment

Amorde is my constituent services liaison for the city. Apparently city officials get all kinds of tickets to sporting events, etc. A buddy of mine who lives in Ward 5 gets tickets to Nationals, Redskins, Capitals and Wizards games all the time. So I thought I would see if my councilmember Jack Evans from Ward 2 would offer up their tickets. I emailed Amorde about this several months ago and never heard back, so I thought a handwritten letter might have better luck.

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Ms. Brabham,

I am writing to see if Ward 2 has any tickets available for remaining Nationals or upcoming Redskins games. A friend of mine regularly receives tickets from his Ward 5 constituent services liaison.

Thank you for taking time to consider my request.

Warm regards,
Reed Sandridge

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Day 245: Dr. Mendizábal

Posted on September 2, 2015 | Leave a comment
Some more homemade stationery and envelopes made from supplies from Paper Source.

Some more homemade stationery and envelopes made from supplies from Paper Source.

Today’s letter is for my all time favorite professor. I had a lot of flexibility in who I chose for my professors and I pretty much only took two – aside from professors I took while studying abroad – and Dr. Mendizábal was one of them. He was also the director of the study abroad program to Valladolid, Spain where I studied for a semester.

He’s since retired from teaching at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where I completed my undergraduate degree. It’s too bad too, because he was the best! My only regret is that sometimes I may have fallen asleep in his classes – not because they were boring or uninteresting, but he taught some early morning classes and I may have stayed up a bit too late on a few rare occasions!

Hopefully my Spanish is still good enough that I don’t embarrass myself.

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(Translated from Spanish)

Dr. Mendizábal,

 I hope this letter finds you well and that you’ve had an enjoyable summer.

A few days ago I was reflecting on who have been the role models in my life and I thought about you. Without a doubt you were my favorite professor. Literature never interested me much, but as a result of your classes I gained an appreciation for it – especially the great writers from Spain and Latin America: Fernando de Rojas, Francisco de Quevedo, Cervantes, Zorrilla, Jiménez, Unamuno, Darío, Vargas Llosa, Pomba, Allende, Fuentes and obviously García Márquez.

I think my favorite class of yours was Short Stories – not because there were so few pages to read, but because of the mastery required to create such profound works in so few words fascinates me. 

I never heard you speak a negative word about anyone inside or outside of the classroom. It’s a characteristic that I greatly admire and strive to incorporate more in my own life. I admire you very much and wanted you to know that even 20 years after taking your classes, I think about you often.

Warm regards for you and your wife,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. A few months back I reconnected with my host family from Valladolid: Domi and Manuel Sánchez. They are all doing well.

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Posted in Reconnecting, You're Awesome!

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