Tag Archives: family

Day 146: Dad

Posted on May 26, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 146

Dad,

When I look back at the letters that I have from you and Mom growing up, the majority were sent while I was spending time away from home at camp, as an exchange student, at college, etc. I’ve kept those letters, I treasure them. They bring back beautiful memories when I hold them in my hand and read the words that you wrote by hand.

As you spend time at the cabin, I thought you could use some mail. It was great to see you this past weekend – I really enjoyed the time we got to spend together.

DadJason

With Dad at a Nationals game a few years ago.

I wonder if you saw the Nats yesterday – close game, they beat the cubs 2-1, Ramos hit the game winning home run. You should google Michael Taylor’s catch if you didn’t see it already, beautiful!

Things here are going fine. I got your check for the Street Sense event on June 2nd. Thank you, that was very generous of you. Put Oct. 1st on your calendar – the 2015 Street Sense Gala. It’s shaping up to be a really cool event.

I’m going over to Ryan’s tonight to babysit Jacqueline and Mackenzie – Ryan and Mandy are going to see comedienne Amy Schumer.

We need to talk about our trip to Europe – we put it on hold as I recall when you had your knee surgery, but that’s been four years now and we still haven’t made plans for the trip.

I’m not sure how long you’re planning on staying up there, but maybe I will try to come visit. And I hope you know that you are always welcome here – I really enjoy when you visit. Maybe we can find time for you to come when we can get to a couple of Nationals games. That would be fun.

I know you have things you want to get done up there, but I hope you take some time to relax and enjoy yourself too.

I love you very much,
Jason

Day 146-2

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Day 133: Alex

Posted on May 13, 2015 | Leave a comment
A photo from my Eagle Scout Banquet, May 12, 1990. From left to right: my grandmother and Alex's great grandmother Virginia Sandridge, Scout Leader Don Stevens (I think), me, my grandfather and Alex's great grandfather Paul Sandridge. Photo: Ryan Sandridge

A photo from my Eagle Scout Banquet, May 12, 1990. From left to right: my grandmother and Alex’s great-grandmother Virginia Sandridge, Scout Leader Don Stevens (I think), me, my grandfather and Alex’s great-grandfather Paul Sandridge. Photo: Ryan Sandridge

Twenty-six years ago yesterday I was presented with the Eagle Scout Award – the highest achievement in the Boy Scouts of America. I don’t think about that day very often, but I do think about how being an Eagle Scout has affected my life.

Professionally, I found myself in leadership roles at a young age. It seemed to come naturally to me. Outside of the office, I was driven toward ways to engage with my community. My training and experiences in scouting surely had an impact on my life.

Doug, Alex and me taking a break durin Alex's Eagle Scout Project in Goochland County, VA. Photo: Ryan Sandridge

Doug, Alex and me taking a break during Alex’s Eagle Scout Project in Goochland County, VA. Photo: Ryan Sandridge

This Sunday my cousin Doug’s son Alex, I think that makes him my cousin once removed, will receive his Eagle Scout Award. I wanted to attend the ceremony in Colorado, but I’ll be traveling for work unfortunately.

I was thankful that I got to participate in his Eagle Scout Project where he revitalized a historic family cemetery outside of Richmond, VA that was in dire need of repair and maintenance.

Congratulations Alex!

Day 133

Dear Alex,

eagle scout awardCongratulations on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. I am very sorry that I cannot be with you this Sunday at your Eagle Banquet.

Sunday you will join an elite group – only five percent of those who join scouting, and one tenth of one percent of all young men your age achieve the rank of Eagle. You are truly outstanding. I encourage you to continue to apply the skills and knowledge you have attained to improve the community in which you live and help those around you. Be the one who steps forward to lead and create the good you want to see the world.

I’m extremely proud of you.

Your cousin and fellow Eagle Scout,
Jason

P.S. I have a small gift for you that you will receive in the coming weeks.

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Sunday Notes & Letters for Week 20

Posted on May 10, 2015 | Leave a comment

Mother's DayToday is Mother’s Day and I want to wish every mother a very special day. It’s a day that I, and I suspect anyone who has also lost their mother, faces with mixed emotions.

I won’t be buying her flowers today, or taking her to lunch. I won’t hear her soft southern voice. And I won’t be able to give her a hug and tell her how much I love her. Despite these things, today is not a sad day for me. Don’t get me wrong, I miss her terribly and often do allow myself to feel sad that she is no longer with us. But not today.  Today is a day to celebrate what a wonderful mother she was to Ryan and me.

The hard days are the ones when I want to pick up the phone to call her and share something special in my life. Or tell her about the book I’m reading that takes place in the hollers of Appalachia where she grew up. Or days when I don’t feel well and instinctively think to call Mom and ask her for advice. Sometimes it’s for the smallest things like wanting to ask her if it was a cup or half cup of flour in the recipe I’m making.

But for every one of those moments, I’ve got a thousand memories that I carry close to my heart for just those occasions. It’s my little way of remembering her and what an extraordinary person she was. My promise to her today and always is to make laughter part of every day, have integrity in all that I do, show kindness to others and always take a few minutes to dance in the kitchen.

Mom and Dad at a cocktail party in Hawaii circa 1969. I'm not sure who took the photo but my brother took a lot of time to restore and colorize this image.

Mom and Dad at a cocktail party in Hawaii circa 1969. I’m not sure who took the photo but my brother took a lot of time to restore and colorize this image.

 

 

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Day 105: Domi Sanchez y Familia

Posted on April 16, 2015 | Leave a comment

Valladolid-spain-mapSpring semester of my junior year in college I studied abroad in Valladolid, Spain. A mostly industrial town in the northwest of Spain, Valladolid is quintessential Castilla y Leon. The Spanish spoken here does fair justice to its heritage and arguably is the heart of this beautiful country.

I lived with a nice family who regularly took in exchange students. Their 6th floor apartment was just across the Pisuerga River from the downtown. It sounds far, but I walked to the city center every day to go to class.

I lost touch with the family but this spring marks 20 years since my stay there and I figured it was about time to find them. I knew I had kept a letter from their oldest son, Pako (yes, spellcheck, he spelled it with a “k”), which I had received about a year after returning to the U.S. I found it this morning and decided to drop them a letter. Hopefully they still live in the same place.

I’ve translated the letter below.

Day 105-4

I included a recent photo of me with my Dad.

 

Dear Domi,

I hope that this letter finds you well. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in touch – I’m lazy to write and even more so in Spanish.

When I finished my University studies I moved to Washington, DC. There is more opportunity to find work here and it’s also very close to my brother (and his wife and two daughters). My father still lives in Pennsylvania – in the same house where I lived as a child. My mother died in 2006 – she had heart trouble for many years – even before I stayed with you.

Day 105-3-2

Pako’s letter from 2006

I haven’t gotten married and don’t have any kids that I am aware of 🙂  I have a consulting company that helps people and companies improve their strategic communication. I used to travel a lot, especially to Latin America – I lived in Brazil for three yeas from 2003-2005. I’ve been back to Spain – but just to Madrid and Barcelona for work.

How are you all doing? Mr. Manuel, Pako, Manolo? I’ve tried from time to time to find you all on the internet but failed. This morning I found a letter that Pako wrote to me in 1996 and it had your address – I had forgotten it.

Well, I hope that you are all well. It would be a great to hear back from you.

A big hug,
Jason Reed Sandridge

P.S. Sorry for my Spanish – I don’t get to practice it much anymore and I’m forgetting it.

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Day 92: Mrs. Wunderlich

Posted on April 3, 2015 | Leave a comment

You may recall on Day 59 I sent my letter to a woman named Charlotte who was celebrating her 98th birthday. Unfortunately my letter was returned to me today with a dull yellow sticker on it stating:

RETURN TO SENDER
UNDELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED
UNABLE TO FORWARD

That made me sad, I was very excited for Ms. Charlotte to get my letter as she was one of my favorite $10 recipients of my Year of Giving. Thankfully, I remembered that she had a sister that lived in Annapolis. After a little sleuth work I found her contact information and sat down today to write her a letter.

Day 92

You can see a glimpse of the lining I created for the envelope.

 

Mrs. Wunderlich, 

In August of 2010 I met you, your husband and your sister Charlotte in Annapolis – I’ve included a few photographs from that day. You may recall I was giving a stranger $10 every day for a year while I was out of work and on Day 248 I gave my $10 to Charlotte. It was a lot of fun.

charlotte todd and jewell-2

Ms. Charlotte, Mrs. Wunderlich, Mr. Wunderlich

reed charlotte and jewell-2

 

I’ve embarked on a new adventure this year were I write someone a handwritten letter every day for a year and I thought about Charlotte and remembered her birthday was Feb. 28th. I mailed her a card for her 98th birthday to the Metairie address where she used to live but it was returned to me – it said it was “undeliverable as addressed.” Do you have a current address for her? I hope that she is well – she was one of my favorite people I gave my $10 to. I also very much enjoyed meeting you and Mr. Wunderlich and hope that you are well. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Reed Sandridge

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