Category Archives: Congratulations

Day 20: Katy

CITIZENFOUR COVERHave you seen Citizenfour? It’s the Oscar nominated film documenting Edward Snowden’s leak of National Security Agency documents in the summer of 2013. I was shocked when I went to see the film and saw that the co-producer was a woman I met during my Year of Giving.

Katy was one of my favorite $10 recipients back in 2010. I met her on Day 111 and will never forget what she did with her $10. You can read about that here.

Katy back in April of 2010

Katy back in April of 2010

Anyway, go see the film regardless of what you think you know about the events surrounding Snowden and the release of the NSA classified documents. It definitey changed my feelings about him and his decision to go public with the information.

 

KatyDay20KatyDay20-2

Dear Katy,

Congratulations on producing Citizenfour – such a beautiful and thought provoking film. It’s honest and opens a very interesting doorway into not only the leaking of NSA classified documents by Edward Snowden but also into the areas of privacy, security, technology, secrecy, transparency – what it means when we call ourselves a democracy. Your film changed my opinion of Mr. Snowden and the series of events that led up to and unfolded during the summer of 2013 – that’s awe-inspiring and powerful! I hope you are well and look forward to one day catching up with you.

All the best,
Reed

Day 14: Kelly

Aughnanure Castle, County Galway, Ireland

Aughnanure Castle, County Galway, Ireland. Kelly did not buy a real castle unfortunately.

“A man’s house is his castle.” – James Otis

My friend Kelly closes on her first home today. She’s been saving for this day for a long time. I dug up this postcard of a castle I visited in Galway, Ireland and thought I’d send it to her – she’s Irish!

Kelly Day 14

Kelly,

Congratulations on buying your first “castle”! I know that you’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time and I am very happy for you. I’m looking forward to seeing it in person.

Now get back to unpacking!

Reed

I got a bit carried away with stamps!

I got a bit carried away with stamps!

Day 5: A.R. and Aimee


A.R. and Aimee are good friends of mine. Aimee and I go way back to seventh grade French class.

They were married in October of 2013 and I had the honor of officiating their wedding. Maybe it was the shots of Fireball that A.R. provided or perhaps I was just really nervous to preside over a marriage when I myself, who have never been married, obviously don’t know a lot about what it means to be married, but I realized a few months ago that I may not have given them a gift. And when I say gift, I mean a check, because so often I don’t really know what to give couples, but money seems to always be appreciated.

Anyway, I checked some things and it seems I really didn’t give them a gift at the time…or if I did, I don’t have any recollection of it. So, here you go…better late than never.

 

Orme

 

Dear A.R. and Aimee,

Happy New Year to you both!

A few months ago I was reviewing my 2013 taxes and finances and realized I don’t think I ever gave you a wedding gift?! I thought I remembered putting a card in the box that was set up on your wedding day, but I don’t see any cancelled check on my bank statements and I don’t think I would have just put cash in an envelope, so here is your belated wedding present.

I know proper etiquette says that this is too late, but that’s a load of crap. It’s worse to never give the gift than to give it late.

Miss you guys and hope to see you soon,

Jason

 Jason?! Who’s Jason? Don’t worry, I’m not outsourcing this. Jason is my first name, but most people call me by Reed – my middle name.

Day 2: Mayor Muriel Bowser

Courtesy of murielformayor.com

Courtesy of murielformayor.com

Today our new mayor takes office. Muriel Bowser, a DC native, will replace Vincent Gray as the mayor of the District of Columbia. She’s 42 and only the second woman to hold the office. I decided to drop her a note on her first official day at work. Go get’em Muriel!

 

 

Muriel Bowser-3

 

Dear Mayor Bowser,

Congratulations on being elected mayor of the District of Columbia. I voted for you and wish you lots of luck. While I know that you will be watching many issues, there are two that are very important to me.

We desperately need to secure voting equality for the 646,000 disenfranchised American citizens living here. We deserve voting representation in Congress.

We also need to increase affordable housing. Each year low-income residents of the District have fewer housing options and the number of homeless individuals increases – up to 12,000 a year ago. I applaud your support of the housing first model.

I'm a Nats fan, what can I say...maybe she has some pull!

I’m a Nats fan, what can I say…maybe she has some pull!

Good luck – buckle in, it’s going to be a wild ride. I hope that you will be able to make significant progress on the above items – and if you can help the Nats win the World Series, even better.

Sincerely,
Reed Sandridge