My friends Chris and Karrin had a beautiful boy last year – and I’m just now getting around to getting them a gift. I’m terrible, I know, but better late than never is what I say.
Chris & Karrin,
This is so overdue, but I really have been meaning to get something for Calvin – he’s so adorable!
Ryan and Mandy received one of these blankets for Jacqueline and it became her favorite. I hope that Calvin likes this one as much as she likes hers.
See you soon!
Reed
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged babies, embossing, friends, gifts, handwritten letters, new babies, newborns, Paper Source, Year of Letters
Summer is a time for the beach, baseball and barbecues. Well, last weekend I didn’t go to the beach or catch any baseball games, but I did go over to the home of the Executive Director of Street Sense, Brian Carome, and his wife Lisa for a barbecue. Everyone there was connected in some way to the Street Sense Media Center, a collaborative where local filmmakers, photographers, poets, playwrights, visual and graphic artists, and audio storytellers work side-by-side with men and women experiencing homelessness to craft stories that challenge our perceptions of homelessness. The work produced in Media Center workshops over the last year has been nothing short of remarkable and it was nice to take a moment and just relax with this incredible group of people.
Brian and Lisa,
Thank you both so much for inviting me to your home for the BBQ. It was great to talk with you and so many other members of the Street Sense family. The food was outstanding – and while I didn’t have the pork since I’m not eating meat right now, everyone was raving about it. I probably should have cheated and just tried a bite. Anyway, I am buying that Weber Cookbook!
Thanks again – it was a wonderful evening.
Reed
Posted in Thank-yous
Tagged barbecues, bbq, DC, friends, grilling, handwritten letters, Media Center, nonprofits, Paper Source, Street Sense, Washington, Weber, Year of Letters
Today’s letter is for Sasha and Jamie – and their kids, although they are too young to read the letter. I met Sasha in 2009 when he directed me in the play The Laramie Project. He’s an insanely talented director and he offered to direct the play that some friends and I put together based on the Year of Giving.
His wife Jamie is a rock star. She does city planning so I thought of her as well when I saw I AM THE GENTRY Thursday night. In fact, I think she worked on some of the city planning for the area where the play took place around H Street in DC.
Dear Brätt Family,
I hope that my letter finds you well. I enjoy seeing your Facebook updates – Mina and Austin are growing up and somehow you guys manage to stay the same.
I went to see a Fringe show last night – it reminded me of the fun (ok, so there was a little stress involved too) we had doing the Year of Giving play. The show last night dealt with gentrification and how that was changing communities and the people who make up the neighborhoods that are experiencing the changes. While it could have been many areas of D.C., it took place in an area near H Street, Northeast.
I think you both would have enjoyed the show. I found myself wishing you were with me. It would have been interesting to talk to Jamie about gentrification and get her perspective on what cities can do to improve things like access to resources and safety while not displacing the majority of the members of a community who can’t afford to stay. And I would have liked to discuss the play with Sasha and get his thoughts from a director’s point of view – it had some striking similarities to Year of Giving.
Anyway, it made me think of you guys. I miss you and hope that we find a way to get together this year (a way that doesn’t involve painting or moving, although, if forced to I will settle for that).
Have a great summer,
Reed
Posted in Just because
Tagged friends, Fringe, handwriting, handwritten letters, letter-writing, letters, stationery, theater, theatre, Year of Letters
Fighting Pandas 2011
Once a week during the dog days of summer I head down to the National Mall to play softball with some colleagues from work. It’s a lot of fun, but we’re not exactly making the sports highlights at night. Actually, that’s not true. One time we did when Bryce Harper showed up to pinch hit for the other team. You can check out the video here.
Anyway, one of my coworkers, Beth, said that the reason she has not come to cheer the team on is that she has never received an official invitation and she doesn’t know where the games are played. Done. See you at the games Beth!
Elizabeth,
You are cordially invited to join the Fighting Pandas softball team as they battle their way to the 2015 Green League Softball Playoffs. Your attendance is requested at the National Mall for the following events:
Monday July 13 vs. Global Swarming
Tuesday July 21 vs. CLAW
Tuesday July 28 vs. TNC Naturals
All games have a scheduled start time of 6pm and generally do not start on time. Attire is “panda casual”. Cold beverages are available for those who play or cheer. Cheerleaders feel free to use the following phrases of encouragement:
Let’s go <insert name here>!
Good eye, good eye!
That was a helluva poke!
Shake it off, you’ll get ‘em next time!
Note: Please refer to Evan Walker only as “Coach” and never look him directly in the eyes.
Posted in Invitation
Tagged Crane & Co., friends, handwritten letters, invitations, letter-writing, letters, National Mall, softball, sports, Year of Letters
Today’s letter is for some good friends in Brazil. They lived here in D.C. for a couple years and come back to visit from time to time. Unfortunately, the last couple times they have visited I have had other travel that has caused me to mostly miss their visits.
Dear Gilson and Keila,
I hope my 188th letter of the year finds you well. I realize you are not in Sao Paulo right now – I’ve been seeing some of the great food (and drink) you are enjoying in Peru. I’ve been there several times but I’ve never been to Machu Picchu, that should be exciting.
I made another custom envelope liner.
Things here are going well. I’ve been busy working and writing letters. I haven’t done much traveling lately, except the occasional work trip. They’re usually shorter trips than I was accustomed to at Comptel. Instead of transcontinental week-long trips, I typically go to New York City, Boston or maybe Florida for a few days. It’s a lot easier, but sometimes I miss traveling to places where English is not the first language.
I hope that you are still planning on coming to the US in September – have you already signed up for the Tough Mudder? You are welcome to stay at my place. Hopefully this time I will actually be here!
I miss you guys and hope that it works out to see you here later this year.
Abracos,
Reed
Posted in Just because
Tagged Brazil, custom envelope liners, friends, handwritten letters, letter-writing, Machu Picchu, Paper Source, Peru, travel, Year of Letters