Author Archives: Reed Sandridge

Day 79: Will Ferrell

Posted on March 20, 2015 | Leave a comment


I got a little behind on posting my letters…whose crazy idea was it anyways to write a letter every day of the year?

Last week my dad pointed out to me that Will Ferrell was playing in some pre-season baseball games. Sure enough, he was right. The actor and comedian set a record for playing for 10 different ball clubs in one day and even playing all ten positions. It was part of some sort of stunt (I know, you’re shocked right) for his Funny or Die website.

Ferrell running in to field a ball hit by Wellington Castillo. Photo: MLB

Ferrell running in to field a ball hit by Wellington Castillo. Photo: MLB

The 47-year-old self proclaimed journeyman was traded nine times on March 12. Here’s how it looked on the official record:

March 12, 2015: Signed by the Oakland A’s as an undrafted amateur free agent.
March 12, 2015: Traded to Seattle Mariners for Comedic Actor to be Named Later
March 12, 2015: Joined Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in unknown transaction.
March 12, 2015: Traded to Chicago Cubs for a washing machine.
March 12, 2015: Traded to Arizona Diamondbacks for a Churro Dog and D-Bat Dog.
March 12, 2015: Claimed off waivers by Cincinnati Reds, Norm MacDonald released.
March 12, 2015: Granted unconditional release by Cincinnati Reds.
March 12, 2015: Signed by Chicago White Sox as Free Agent.
March 12, 2015: Traded to San Francisco Giants for unknown compensation.
March 12, 2015: Traded to Los Angeles Dodgers for unknown compensation.
March 12, 2015: Traded to San Diego Padres for unknown compensation.

My favorite trade was the one to the Diamondbacks in exchange for a Churro Dog and D-Bat Dog.

Day 79

Hey Will,

Day 79-2

I embossed a baseball mitt on the front of the card.

Congratulations on your recent feat of playing all 10 positions for 10 teams in one day!

I saw you playing center field for the Angels (the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, not the California Angels that we grew up with). I think Mike Trout was getting nervous about keeping his spot on the team after you deftly fielded that rocket from Wellington Castillo – by the way I think that would be a great character name for you in a future film. I give you that idea free of charge. Anyway, it was absolute BS that they traded you to the Cubs for a washing machine – you’re better than that!

As Father Guido Sarducci used to say, “Way to Go!  Keep Up The Good Work!”
-Reed Sandridge

P.S. I met you years ago at President Bill Clinton’s office in Harlem. You looked scared when all of us staffers crowded around you. I’m sorry for that.

Day 79-3

Will Ferrell came to President Clinton’s office in 2009 when I was working for his foundation. The entire staff circled around the actor for a photo and he looked more uncomfortable than Ricky Bobby at a royal polo match with Prince William.

 

 

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Day 78: Gerry Hicks, The Trail House

Posted on March 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 78

I made a bicycle embossed card for Gerry! I didn’t have a stamp of a backpacker or a campfire.

You saw in my post on Tuesday that I was up in Frederick, MD doing some work. I’ve got a few thank-yous to write. Here’s one to Gerry Hicks who opened The Trail House with her husband Clyde in 1984.

It’s a great outdoors shop and you’ll love the people who work there. If you’re in Frederick, stop in and say hello. They gave me a cool Nalgene water bottle – I’ve promised to photograph it some place interesting. I don’t rock climb or do a lot of hiking, but I have made about 100 skydives, so maybe I’ll take this thing to 14,000 feet and enjoy a cold, refreshing beverage on the way down. Stay tuned for the photo!

Day 78-2

 

Dear Gerry,

I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for taking time to speak with me last week about The Trail House and your experiences with social media. I enjoyed our discussion and meeting your staff. I thought a lot about our conversation since Tuesday and how your business has changed since opening the store 30 years ago.

Your Facebook post on Tuesday evening sharing Jennifer Pharr Davis’ course on preparing for a hike of the Appalachian Trail is a perfect example of the 80/20 rule I mentioned – giving your audience something they can use.

Keep up the good work. Let me know if I can ever be of any assistance.

All the best,
Reed

P.S. Be on the look out for some photos of me with The Trail House water bottle!

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Day 77: Mackenzie

Posted on March 18, 2015 | 3 comments


IMG_0206I’m an uncle for the second time! What an amazing experience. Meet my beautiful niece Mackenzie.

I wanted to write her a letter on the day she was born – hopefully some day she and I can read this together. It will be fun, we’ll laugh and probably tear up a bit too. Mom and baby are both doing well.

Day 77

Dear Mackenzie,

 Day 77-3HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Only once in life do we get to say these words and it really mean what it says. What a day today was for you. You joined us at 2:38pm weighing in at 6lbs. 15oz. – they also measured you and you were 19.5 inches long. That number probably doesn’t matter a whole lot because you have a good chance of inheriting the short person’s gene – don’t worry, I got it too and I turned out relatively ok.

You were gorgeous and quiet when I first saw you – all swaddled up like a tightly rolled Chipotle burrito! Mom and Dad let me hold you – you stayed perfectly still with the exception of an occasional shiver. Your shinny pink eyelids softly closed and your lips gently touching, you were very relaxed given all the excitement that you had experienced.

I have been waiting for this day for a long time – imagining what you would look like, the shape of your smile, the color of your eyes, the gentle sound of you breathing. I can’t wait to watch you grow, just like I have with your beautiful sister Jacqueline.

Day 77-2-2Mackenzie, you and I share something in common – besides our good looks and calm demeanor – we’re both the younger of two siblings. This road can be tough sometimes, but it comes with some huge advantages too. Your sister Jacqueline will be your hero in life, just as your Dad has been mine. She’ll be your best friend, the person you can confide in, the one that you can always talk to about anything. It’s a very special gift.

And there is more good news – if you can stay awake a few more minutes to finish reading this letter. You’ve pretty much won the lottery. Yep, your parents are awesome – they’re the cream of the nursery as they say. You and Jacqueline are the most important part of their lives and they love you more than I can put into words.

I long to hold you in my arms again. Every moment we share together is important to me. I look forward to babysitting you, tucking you into bed at night, reading stories to you, helping you learn Spanish, making fun of your granddad together, taking you to the park, holding your hand as we walk together, laughing until our stomachs hurt, giving you a hug when you need one, seeing you participate in school activities, taking you to baseball games, spending the weekend with you and Jacqueline when Mom and Dad are away, watching you graduate high school, traveling with you to far parts of the world and watching you discover new places.

I could go on and on (Uncle Reed sometimes talks a lot) but what I’m trying to say is that you captured my heart today. And from this day forward my life will never be the same. I will stand by your parents to help raise you, support you in all of your dreams and most importantly I will love you unconditionally forever. That is my promise to you.

Day 77-2Get some rest – you’ve got a long beautiful life waiting of you.

Love,
Uncle Reed

PS. Sometimes the younger sibling doesn’t get photographed very much – don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!

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Day 76: Downtown Frederick Partnership

Posted on March 17, 2015 | Leave a comment


Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I had the pleasure of spending Tuesday in Frederick, MD working with several companies on elevating their social media through the power of storytelling. So much of the social media that you see from companies focuses on their product and not on the real hero of their story – their audience. And I say audience deliberately instead of customers. With social media, we need to focus our messages toward the people who believe what we believe, and not those who want to buy what we sell. It sounds counterintuitive but it works.

I had a little fun and embossed the front of this card with a city skyline.

I had a little fun and embossed the front of this card with a city skyline.

After my talk in the morning, which competed with the 8am rise and shine “Kegs and Eggs” festivities two blocks away at the local Irish watering whole, I then visited five local companies and sat down with each of them to work on crafting their social story.

It was a fun day chock full of thought provoking conversations. I enjoyed getting to know each of the businesses I worked with and am thankful to the Downtown Frederick Partnership for making it all happen. They’re a fantastic organization working to enhance, promote and preserve the charming downtown area of Frederick. The next time you’re there, please stop into these five businesses and say hello. Tell them Reed sent you.

Gerry at The Trail House
Richard at Earthly Elements
Murray at Hunting Creek Outfitters
Maria at Unique Optique
and Lianne at Nido’s

Day 7576

If the address on the envelope isn’t crystal clear – you need to visit Dr. Maria at Unique Optique!

 

Dear Kara, Brittany and Danielle,

Thank you so much for inviting me to speak at the Competitive Edge Series today– I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and so many of the wonderful people that represent the companies from your vibrant downtown business district.

I particularly enjoyed meeting one on one with some of the businesses and working with them on creating an effective social media presence. I look forward to keeping in touch with them – as well as with each of you.

Thanks again,
Reed

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Day 75: Meg

Posted on March 16, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 7576-4My friend Meg lost her mother last week. She died the day after her 78th birthday. Losing family members is painful – it’s been 8 years since my mother died and I miss her just as much today as I did back in December of 2006 when she passed away.

Meg is smart, caring and has a generous sense of humor – she’s the type of person everyone likes. I’m sad for my friend today – I know how much her heart must be aching.

Day 7576-3

Dear Meg,

I am so sorry to hear about your mother. While I never knew her, I can imagine what a wonderful person she was – she raised an incredible daughter.

I believe that you are in Missouri right now – I hope it helps knowing how many people are keeping you and your family in our thoughts.

Let’s find time to get together when you are back.
Reed

 

 

 

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