Tag Archives: letter-writing

Day 204: President Jimmy Carter

Posted on July 23, 2015 | Leave a comment
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks at an Ethical Elections Pact signing ceremony in Panama City, Friday, March 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks at an Ethical Elections Pact signing ceremony in Panama City, Friday, March 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

A letter or phone call from President Carter would be epic. Happy birthday Kim!

Day 204

Dear President Carter, 

Your dedication to public service and improving the lives of people from all around the world inspires me. You and Mrs. Carter are fantastic role models for those in public service as well as regular citizens like myself who strive to build stronger communities.

I’m writing to you today to ask a favor. A dear friend of mine, Kim Perry, is celebrating her 45th birthday on August 1st. She is quite possibly your biggest fan – excluding your family of course. She is the Executive Director of DC Vote, a nonprofit dedicated to securing democratic equality for the citizens of the District of Columbia. I know your public service has influenced her to follow the path she has chosen and a birthday greeting from you would mean the world to her. I hope that you will consider this request. Her contact details are:

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With respect and admiration,
Reed Sandridge

 

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Day 202: Lynn and Bianca

Posted on July 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

Many of you know about my friend Anthony whose hard work and determination got him into housing after 20 years on the streets. Last night we celebrated two years of housing with about 40 friends at Rumors Bar and Restaurant in DC.

Two of the guests were from a doctor’s office across the street that has been so kind to Anthony. The doctor, who I’ve seen for years, agreed to treat Anthony for free. Him and the entire staff are wonderful. Lynn and Bianca came stopped by the party to support Anthony – they were awesome!

Day 202

Dear Lynn and Bianca,

Your joining us at Anthony’s 2 yr Anniversary celebration moved me. I’ve always been inspired by the power of community and the fact that you took the time out of your day to come and celebrate with Anthony meant a tremendous amount to him – and to me. We are all part of each other’s community – and by coming together we strengthen our social fabric.

I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk more – I hope you enjoyed yourselves,
Reed

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Day 197: Uncle Ted

Posted on July 16, 2015 | Leave a comment

Years ago, my Uncle Ted was a fan of a series of Bud Lite commercials that featured a guy who would pretend to be other people just to get Bud Lite. Here’s one of the commercials.

Anyway, as a joke I started sending him postcards from around the country and eventually around the world that were addressed to him or “current resident.” They just said, “Yes I am!” on the cards. There was no sender name or return address. I’d address postcards and give them to people who were traveling and ask them to drop them in the mail to try to throw him off my trail.

I chose a post card of a painting by Juan Gris. No reason really...just an old post card I found in my shoe box of letters.

I chose a postcard with artwork from Spanish painter Juan Gris. No reason really…just an old post card I found in my shoe box of letters.

“I just got one from Tokyo other day,” he told me one holiday suspecting that I was behind the gag. I looked at him square in the eye and honestly replied, “Well, I’ve never been to Tokyo, heck I haven’t been to Asia. What about Doug?” I brought up his son, my cousin, to hopefully offer some other plausible culprit. He wasn’t buying it but I never admitted to being the sender of these postcards. Who knows how many he got in total.

Well, that was probably 10 years ago at least. My aunt and uncle don’t even live in the same state anymore. But I was thinking I should resurrect this prank. So I had a coworker address this so that he wouldn’t recognize my handwriting and I will think of a clever place to send it from.

 

Now, if you know my Uncle Ted…I ask you to keep this our little secret. Come along and see what happens.

Day 197-2

Yes I Am!

 

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Day 196: Mr. Tim Gomez, Dixon Ticonderoga Company

Posted on July 15, 2015 | Leave a comment

pencilsJust the other day I was sharpening some pencils in the office when a colleague said, “You still use pencils?” I was surprised by the question. I love using pencils and appreciate the way the graphite adheres to the paper and the strange but alluring smell of a freshly sharpened pencil.

I grew up chewing on Dixon Ticonderoga pencils, but recently I’ve gotten rid of the iconic yellow #2 pencil – and by the way, who is using anything but a #2? Anyway, as much as their eye-catching name and logo is an integral part of my schoolwork from yesterday, I’ve decided to give them up after learning that they no longer source their cedar from forests harvested by suppliers who comply with the standards established by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or use any post-consumer recycled product.

Maybe the information I found is out of date – I hope so. But until I hear otherwise, I’m no longer buying them…for now, I’ll be using Forest Choice, GreenLine Eco-Writer or Paper Mate Earth Write.

Day 196

Dear Mr. Gomez,

Like many school children in the U.S., I grew up using Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencils. There’s something about the sweet cedar aroma from your pencils that still reminds me of the first day of a new school year.

The smell of that cedar led me to research your pencils and from what I could find, none of your pencils are made from post-consumer recycled product or wood from FSC certified supply chains. How come? It just seems like the right thing to do so that those young people holding your pencils will be able to grow up and enjoy our forests as you and I have.

Day 196-2

I hope to hear that you will make this right,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. This letter was written with a Paper Mate Earth Write #2 pencil made from 100% recycled content from reclaimed wood. 

 

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Day 194: Megan

Posted on July 13, 2015 | 2 comments
Barren Hill cocktail at McClellan's Retreat

Barren Hill cocktail at McClellan’s Retreat

At some point I became interested in mixing cocktails. For some of the more interesting ones, it seems I’m always missing one ingredient. Often times it is a tincture, bitters or syrup that has to be prepared ahead of time. So despite my interest in crafting my own cocktails, it’s nice sometimes to go some place that has all the ingredients – not to mention the expertise to make them!

Day 194bAround the corner from my house is McClellan’s Retreat. They opened up last fall where Veritas used to be. I hesitated posting this letter here because people will start to flock to this favorite spot of mine and then there will be no room for me at the bar. I guess that would be a good thing though – both in terms of the bar doing well enough to stay in business and for me not sitting at the bar as often as I may now.

Anyway, Megan is the manager and head bartender there. If you stop by, tell her I sent you. And definitely order the Barren Hill, it’s my favorite. But I caught part of a conversation one day about the pistachio syrup – the fact that possibly they’ve lost the recipe and when this batch runs out, it’s gone forever. So you better go sooner than later.

Day 194-2

Dear Megan,

It was good to see you this past weekend – it had been way too long since I had stopped in. It’s not healthy (staying away that is) and I promise not to do it again.

People talk about climate change, pandemics, ISIS… but what keeps me up at night is pistachio syrup. What will become of the Barren Hill if you run out??? Speaking of which, I was in on Sunday and Chris made me one – it was pretty delicious. You’ve got some competition!

Thanks for being my neighborhood bar.

Cheers,
Reed

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