Tag Archives: handwritten

Sunday Letters: a letter from my Dad

Today I’m sharing a letter my father wrote me this week. It’s these kind of letters you keep forever.

I love you Dad!

photo: Jerry Sandridge

photo: Jerry Sandridge

Dear Reed

Your Day 34 letter moved me greatly. Those 41 words that Steve Carell wrote could have just as easily come out of your mouth. Your Mom sent you many handwritten letters and I know how much you miss them. I’ve never been much for writing letters. I’ll try to do better, but they won’t be the same — they won’t have that beautiful, flowing penmanship that she had. They won’t have those quaint phrases that you and your brother loved so much. And I doubt if I can match her upbeat spirit. But hey … it’s a start.

Love You,
Dad.

Day 38: Aunt Betty and Uncle Larry

About a year ago I received a wonderful handwritten letter from my Aunt Betty – one of my Mom’s sisters. She is a thoughtful letter-writer and I thought I would drop her and my Uncle Larry a note to say hello. They use email and Facebook, but I think they still really enjoy sending and receiving handwritten letters.

Year of Letters-5

Dear Aunt Betty & Uncle Larry,

Just a note to say hello and let you know that I’m thinking about you. Work and some side projects have been keeping me busy. I enjoy it all though. I just got back from a work trip to Florida – not a bad time of year to go there!

Ryan and I are planning to head to TN at the end of February to continue working on getting Sue’s house ready for sale. Hopefully we can stop by and visit with you all.

Also – I’ve got a little project of collecting old family recipes. Maybe you have some that you would like to share for the collection. I love your bran muffins and I know Ryan is a huge fan of your oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

I hope that you are doing well and I look forward to seeing you later this month. I’ll call you to let you know exact dates.

Love,
Jason (most of my family call me Jason – Reed is my middle name)

Day 37: Lindsay, Lagunitas Brewing Co.


lagunitas_IPAday-timeI enjoy a wide variety of beers – one of my favorite breweries is Lagunitas. Not only because of the deliciousness of their beverages, but also because of their dedication to helping nonprofits by donating product for fundraising events. They’ve helped out Street Sense, one of my favorite nonprofits, for the past two years and I wanted to let them know how much it means to me as a Board member of Street Sense.

Year of Letters

Lindsay,

I hope 2015 is off to a good start for you.

Year of Letters-3I wanted to send you a note to say THANK YOU to you and everyone at Lagunitas for helping Street Sense the past two years with beer donations to our annual gala. You make it so straightforward to receive donations. I can’t tell you how much it means to a small nonprofit like Street Sense. We appreciate it very much.

Cheers,
Reed

Day 36: Brian, Paper Source

This is what I bought at Paper Source!

I’m embarrassed to say that this isn’t everything that I bought at Paper Source!

I visited Paper Source in Georgetown for the first time. I can’t believe I have never been there. Amazing store full of wonderful paper, craft and gift products. I found so many terrific items there…I was like a kid in a candy shop! I’ll definitely be back. Brian, the assistant manager, was extremely knowledgable and helpful – we need more professionals in retail like him!

Brian Paper Source

Brian,

Thank you so much for taking time to help me yesterday. You were extremely generous with your time and you are a hell of a salesman too – you convinced me to buy things I didn’t even know I needed until I met you. Let’s do the letter writing workshop!

I tried to heat emboss this script on the front of the card.

I tried to heat emboss this script on the front of the card. I didn’t get enough of the VersaMark on the card so that the embossing powder would adhere.

Thanks again,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. This was my first heat embossing – I didn’t get enough of the VersaMark on the card.

Day 34: Anonymous (Teaism Dupont)

Day34I thought I would do something different today – leave a letter anonymously somewhere around town. It’s an idea that I got from a project called Letters Left in London.

So I stopped in for lunch at Teaism in Dupont and left my letter on the window sill. I tried to be rather discreet and leave it there with nobody seeing me. I think it worked, but then I wanted a photograph of it and that certainly drew some attention, but apparently not that much because after taking the picture I took my food upstairs and enjoyed my lunch.

I sat there and peacefully enjoyed my asian barbecue chicken kebab while wondering if anyone had picked up my letter. Perhaps someone would come upstairs with it in hand. That might be interesting. I didn’t leave my name on it or even my return address…perhaps I should have, but I can do that next time. Today I was nervous leaving it there, it was like I was doing something wrong. My heart skipped a bit faster.

The letter was still comfortably leaning against the sugar canister when I left some thirty minutes later.

Day34-3

“Sending a handwritten letter is becoming such an anomaly. It’s disappearing. My mom is the only one who still writes me letters. And there’s something visceral about opening a letter – I see her on the page. I see her in her handwriting.” – Steve Carell

Take time this week to write someone you care about a handwritten letter.

Not sure what brand of cards these are, but I've had them for a long time.

Not sure what brand of cards these are, but I’ve had them for a long time.