Tag Archives: handwritten

Day 61: Myra

Posted on March 2, 2015 | 6 comments
Myra personalized my card with a stamp and artwork.

Myra personalized my card with a stamp and artwork.

Last week I had the distinct pleasure of receiving a letter from someone that I have never met. Myra found me online – she’s trying to do 52 new things this year and she just checked off “write a stranger.”

I did a bit of Googling and found that Myra, who didn’t list her last name which made it a bit trickier to find her, had a wonderful blog. And stop your stalker thinking right there. I’m not a stalker but I’m pretty good at the Google.

Seriously, definitely check out her blog – she’s makes beautiful handmade cards, posts all kinds of photos and even tells you how to make zucchini bread! Hopefully Myra’s commitment to explore new experiences in 2015 will also inspire you. I’m going to try to bake some of that zucchini bread!

Day61

Dear Myra,

What a wonderful surprise to receive your letter last week – thank you! I found your blog and was very impressed with your creativity and commitment to trying new things – and you are so thoughtful toward others. We need more Myras! I liked your personalized stamp/art work on the card you sent me. I’ve just started to stamp/emboss a little – so I tried some on this one for you! Keep on creating awesomeness in your world and stay in touch!
-Reed

 

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Sunday Notes & Letters

Posted on March 1, 2015 | Leave a comment


This past week I received two handwritten letters. One of them from Michelle who I wrote to on Day 58 and the other one from Myra who I will write this week – maybe tomorrow!

Most of the time we think of handwritten letters in a very positive light. They often unfold people’s true feelings of happiness, love and admiration. But not all handwritten letters are so pleasant.

murdermysteries.com

murdermysteries.com

Eighty-three years ago today a crime was committed in Hopewell, NJ that would be dubbed “the crime of the century.” Sometime between 8-10pm on Tuesday, March 1st, 1932, the twenty-month-old son of famed pilot Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from the family home.  The cute dimpled boy with curly blond hair and striking blue eyes vanished out of the Lindbergh’s second story home.

Ransom note: Dear Sir! Have 50.000$ redy 25 000$ in 20$ bills 15000$ in 10$ bills and 10000$ in 5$ bills After 2-4 days we will inform you were to deliver the mony. We warn you for making anyding public or for notify the Police The child is in gut care. Indication for all letters are Singnature (Symbol to right) and three hohls.

Ransom note:
Dear Sir!
Have 50.000$ redy 25 000$ in 20$ bills 15000$ in 10$ bills and 10000$ in 5$ bills After 2-4 days we will inform you were to deliver
the mony.
We warn you for making
anyding public or for notify the Police The child is in gut care.
Indication for all letters are
Singnature (Symbol to right) and three hohls.

Ransom notes were issued and the Lindberghs paid $50,000 in marked currency. Sadly Little Charles A. Lindbergh Jr. was not returned to his family and was found dead six weeks later on a roadside by a passing truck driver. Police did arrest a man, Bruno Hauptmann, who was convicted and later electrocuted in Trenton State Prison on April 3, 1936.

Charles Lindbergh at the controls of one of the planes that flew American airmail in the first years after the service's inception. (fiddlersgreen.net)

Charles Lindbergh at the controls of one of the planes that flew American airmail in the first years after the service’s inception. (fiddlersgreen.net)

Most people know Charles Lindberg Sr. for his historic solo nonstop transatlantic flight. But before making history, Lindbergh was a U.S. Mail pilot, carrying handwritten letters in his planes across the midwest. I read that he bailed out twice from his mail plane and parachuted to safety only to land and immediately go to locate the wreckage in order to save the letters that were onboard. “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” – Maybe they ought to add plane crashes to that list!

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Day 59: Ms. Charlotte

Posted on February 28, 2015 | Leave a comment

charlotte-2On August 19th of 2010 I met 93-year-old Charlotte as she sat on a bench with her sister enjoying the parade of sailboats gliding through Annapolis’ gentle harbor. It was Day 248 of my Year of Giving and I was looking for someone to give my daily $10 t0. Sitting next to her sister Jewell, the New Olreans resident had been in the Baltimore-Washington area for less than 8 hours – having just arrived that morning.

Ms. Charlotte is full of life and has an inviting smile that makes anyone feel welcome. It wasn’t long before I was sitting next to her captivated by the stories of her 10 children and the travels she’s made around the world. My favorite story perhaps though was about her late husband. They went on their first date on a Saturday evening during the final years of Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. On that date he asked her out for the remaining 51 Saturdays that year. Smart guy.

I visited with Ms. Charlotte in 2011. I was in New Orleans for business and wrote to her to see if she might want to get together. It wasn’t easy to schedule. She had plans to go to a baseball game on Monday night with one of her sons and Wednesdays were reserved for bridge – so we ended up meeting Tuesday evening. I picked her up and took her to a local restaurant that had fresh seafood and all the typical cajun delicacies.

Of all 365 people I met during my Year of Giving, Ms. Charlotte was one of my favorites and I wanted to send her a note today to wish her happiness on her 98th birthday.

Day59

Dear Ms. Charlotte,

Happy 98th birthday! I met you in the summer of 2010 when you were visiting your sister Jewell in Annapolis. I was unemployed and had made a commitment to give $10 to someone every day for a year. I met you and gave you my $10 on Day 248. I remember the day very well – you were wearing an elegant white outfit accented with a floral scarf.

I later enjoyed visiting with you when I was in New Orleans in 2011 and taking you to dinner. Your passion for life is contagious and I cherish the fact that our lives crossed paths.

charlotteI hope that your health is well and that you are still getting together with your bridge group on Wednesdays.

Have a wonderful birthday.

Warm wishes from Washington, DC.
Reed Sandridge

 

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Day 58: Michelle

Posted on February 27, 2015 | Leave a comment

When I started the Year of Letters I thought that I might just get random handwritten letters from people. My address is listed on here and people know how much I like sending and receiving handwritten correspondence, so you never know. It turns out that I’ve received my 2nd and 3rd handwritten letter this week from people who I haven’t sent a letter.

Note from Michelle

Note from Michelle

One was from Michelle – a generous young woman from Charlotte who I have been in touch with since my Year of Giving project. Back in 2010 she provided clothes for Phillip from Day 75 of that project as well as bought an electric blanket for Bill on Day 330 who was sleeping outdoors but near an electric outlet. That was so kind of her.

Today I took a moment and wrote Michelle back.

Day5859-2

Dear Michelle,

Thank you so much for your letter – it made my day to receive a note handwritten to me. I appreciate you connecting me with Kacy – her projects are interesting and inspiring. Speaking of inspiring, your 40 in 40 commitment is very cool. I also love that you are going to make a quilt out of the t-shirts – that is certain to be a meaningful keepsake to remind you of your extraordinary achievement.

I did some embossing on the outside of the card.

I did some embossing on the outside of the card.

I don’t get to Charlotte often – in fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever been out of the airport (nice rocking chairs!), but if I go some day I will definitely let you know. And please do the same if you are ever in DC.

All the best and I look forward to following your 40 in 40 journey!
Reed

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Day 57: Brian Lieberman from Twice as Warm

Posted on February 26, 2015 | Leave a comment


A little over a year ago I met entrepreneur Brian Lieberman – the founder of Twice as Warm, a clothing company whose mission it is to bring warmth to people and communities around the world by using the “buy one, give one” model where every purchase you make allows Twice as Warm to provide a clothing item for a person in need. I almost hate to start with that kind of description because their clothing items are really amazing on their own. It’s not like they’re okay products from a company that does good in the community. You’ll buy their American made products for their quality but you’ll fall in love with them because of the way they touch the lives of those in need.

Brian is a great guy who I’ve been honored to get to know. He’s the kind of person who you want to stay in touch with so I dropped him a note.

My note to Brian along with the hat I mentioned and one of my favorite t-shirts for Twice as Warm.

My note to Brian along with the hat I mentioned and one of my favorite t-shirts for Twice as Warm.

 

Brian,

It was good to see you at the MLK Service Day at Meridian Int’l. I’m always impressed with you and what you are creating with Twice as Warm.

I thought of you today because twice I’ve been told today how much people like my hat – it’s been getting a lot of use the last couple of weeks!

Anyway, I hope that you are well. Let’s get together in March.

Stay warm -Reed

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