Tag Archives: handwritten

Day 95: Teddy

Posted on April 6, 2015 | Leave a comment
A photo of Teddy that I captured at Opening Day 2014. He had a tremendous lead, but failed to cross the finish line first. Photo: Reed Sandridge

A photo of Teddy that I captured at Opening Day 2014. He had a tremendous lead, but failed to cross the finish line first. Photo: Reed Sandridge

I have become a huge Washington Nationals fan. I try to get to a few games each year and have somehow managed to make it to every home opener since the Nationals came to Washington a decade ago.

For those of you who haven’t been to a Nationals baseball game, during the fourth inning five 10-foot mascots dressed as former presidents race around the inside of the ballpark. Why do they race you ask? Who cares…it’s just fun to watch.

Teddy and some of Photo: M. Scott Mahaskey/Politico.com

Teddy having a good belly laugh during a pre race meeting. Photo: M. Scott Mahaskey/Politico.com

 

Teddy (T. Roosevelt) is joined by George (Washington), Abe (Lincoln), Tom (Jefferson) and newcomer Bill (Taft). I’m not sure why they added Bill back in 2013 – I liked that all four original commander in chiefs were featured of Mount Rushmore. Bill just seems like a 5th wheel.

Teddy was the best gimmick in baseball for nearly seven years. No matter how far of a lead he had in the race he would never win. That was until the last game of the regular season in 2012, which I was at, when Teddy finally won. In a way I thought it was hilarious that he never won and think they should have kept it going. There were social media campaigns to #LetTeddyWin. He was the talk of the town.

With all the attention on the Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer – who Washington picked up during the off-season for something like $1.3 billion – I thought I would drop Teddy a note so he wouldn’t feel left out of all the hype and excitement surrounding today.

See you at the game!

Day 95

Dear Teddy,

Opening Day – I imagine this is a big day for you. I’ve been to all 10 Nationals home openers and I’ll be there today. I come to watch you my friend. You’re a star, a legend, a nonconformist, even a bit of a rule-bender. I like that.

Photo: M. Scott Mahaskey/Politico.com

Photo: M. Scott Mahaskey/Politico.com

I was at the game the 2012 game when you won your first race – frankly I was disappointed about that. Your inability to win a race was pure genius. But I still love you and remain your fan even though if it weren’t for the newcomer Taft you’d be in last place with your unflattering 6.82 win percentage.

I would love to come visit you some day – hang out, help you prepare for the race, lend a hand (literally) answering some fan mail, grab a post race beer…whatever. Would that be possible? I’ve got skills and am willing to do just about anything.

Your fan,
Reed

P.S. Stay focused today…don’t listen to the Scherzer hype…it’s all about you my man!

 

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Sunday Notes & Letters for Week 15

Posted on April 5, 2015 | Leave a comment

april5I am over one-fourth of the way through my letter-writing journey. I hope I can make it. I’m having a blast but this takes time! You’d be surprised how much time it takes to write (and rewrite from time to time) neatly, emboss stationery, take photographs, upload them to the blog, write something thoughtful or funny. Thankfully I have a decent supply of whiskey that will hopefully get me most of the way through the year – I am accepting donations to help make sure I don’t run out.

Seriously, I hope I can keep this up. What’s great is that you keep sending me more and more letters. It’s working. People are sitting down and going old school on keeping in touch with me. Thank you to all those of have sent letters.

Muriel Bowser-3

A copy of my letter to the new Mayor of Washington, D.C.

And I can’t remember if I have mentioned this or not here, but stay tuned, I’m going to throw a party at the end of the year for everyone who has either received one of my letters or sent me a letter. So if you haven’t written me yet, drop me a handwritten note and I’ll make sure you get on the invite list.

Baseball season officially started today with the St. Louis Cardinals shaming the Cubs at home 3-0. Tomorrow, the Washington Nationals play their home opener against the New York Mets. I’ll be there in the Mayor’s Suite – I wonder if Mayor Bowser will be there. I sent her a letter on Day 2 and have not heard back from her. I’ll be sure to remind her if she’s there.

Here are a few hints about who tomorrow’s letter is for. This person missed the first season, but has been to every Nationals home game after that. He is the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and is blind in his left eye due to a boxing injury.

 

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Day 93: Jacqueline

Posted on April 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

Today is my beautiful niece Jacqueline’s second birthday. I sat down this morning to write her a letter. I love you Jacqueline.

Day 93-3

Happy Birthday Jacqueline!

So you’re two today. You know that only happens once. Not just turning two, but doubling your age in one year – well done.

I’ve noticed two big changes in you over the past year. First, is your mobility. Man, you are fast now. And no more of this crawling stuff – you are speedster on two legs. It’s good though, that makes me keep up with you and helps keep Unca Gee (that’s what you call me) stay in good shape and keeps his tummy from getting its own zip code.

When I get you up from your nap and take you downstairs you race for the stairs traversing them like an experienced alpinist. You dash toward the kitchen and open the pantry door where you know exactly where all of your favorite treats are. “Up, up, up” you plead asking me to lift you so that you can have a better view. And then your eyes will lock in on your prey. “Baby mum-mums, baby mum-mums!” you call out. Who knew that rice cakes were so popular with your generation?

And this leads into the other area that I have noticed the most change in you – your ability to communicate. A year ago you were very limited on what and how you communicated with me, but now you are pretty talkative. And you know more colors than me (in all fairness I’m colorblind). You can identify monkeys and whales and ladybugs. You really like ladybugs! You’ve even learned a few words in Español – muy bien!

I want you to know how appreciative I am of the time you spend with me. You take excellent care of me when your mom and dad aren’t around to watch me. You take me to the park and allow me to pick you up and raise you high in the sky again and again. You’ve encouraged me to work on my reading aloud skills and have even entrusted me with the Diaper Genie (that thing is worthy of a Nobel Prize). I’ve even gotten your permission to tuck you into bed. In short, you believe in me. And I believe in you.

Today you will be showered with gifts. Hold on to the feeling you have when you see your cake and all the gifts people have brought you. I have that feeling every time we’re together. Every time you smile at me, hold my hand, shout Unca Gee, say a new word, try to walk in my shoes, wave at me from the window when I arrive, ask me to pick you up so that you can choose what color binky you want at bedtime and most of all, when you run at me full speed, arms wide open and give me one of your powerful hugs.

Jacqueline, I cannot imagine my life without you. With the exception of the rare temper tantrum or multi-directional food hurling exploits, you are so far beyond your two little years. I love how you handle yourself. Remember when we were at Gymboree and that boy pushed you out of the way so he could go first. You kept your cool and didn’t react by pushing him back. You were like, “No big deal, we’re all gonna get a chance.” It was priceless. A lot of us adults could learn something from that.

Day 93-2Anyway, Happy Birthday! Keep up the good work. Enjoy today. Smear your face in cake, hell you can throw it on the walls for all I care, because today is your day – and it’s not my house.

I love you very much / Te quiero muchisimo!
Unca Gee

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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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Day 91: Karin

Posted on April 2, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 91-3You really get to know someone when travel with them. When we go on vacation, we choose who are traveling companions are, but when we travel for work we often don’t have a choice. So when you travel with a work colleague who you really like, it makes the trip that much more enjoyable.

I arrived at her home in Bethesda to pick her up for our drive to Pennsylvania. After her dogs gave their approval, I made my way into the foyer. Her daughter Carolyn was by her side, her eyes heavy holding back tears. Karin had been traveling for work a lot recently and now I was making her mother miss another night at home. My heart became heavy, remembering how I felt when my dad would leave for long business trips when I was about Carolyn’s age. I’d cry while I waved goodbye to him at the airport.

I didn’t know Karin very well before this trip, but I really enjoyed spending time with her. She’s smart, interesting and very easy to talk with. I felt bad about Carolyn, but hopefully she will like this little polar bear.

Day 91-2

Karin,

Vitaj doma! I hope you had a wonderful trip to Slovakia.

Day 91I wanted to thank you for taking time to travel with me to PA last week. Spending 4 hours in a car can seem like an eternity – but you made the time go by quickly and I enjoyed very much the opportunity to get to know you better. Here’s a little something for Carolyn to keep her inspired for your trip to see polar bears this fall.

Best,
Reed

P.S. And thank you for the Swiss chocolates, they were delicious!

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