Category Archives: Sunday Letters

Sunday Notes & Letters for Week 28

Wow…so I am more than half way through the Year of Letters. In one way I am excited, but I caught myself thinking yesterday that this will be over in only x amount of days and that makes me sad. I’m having a so much fun.

Today I thought I would share some handwritten notes from The Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger. By the way, that’s awesome that spell check knows how to spell his name because I didn’t. Anyway, it seems that the former Mr. Universe and 38th governor of the state of California, is a fan of the handwritten note.

pagesix.com

pagesix.com

On Friday I read on the HollywoodReporter.com (I know, judge away) that Schwarzenegger had heard about a father who was suffering from mental illness and wasn’t acting himself. He agreed to watch the latest Terminator with his son and the son reported that his father smiled at one of the scenes – the first time he had smiled in months. The story found its way to the strong man and he wrote the father this personal note.

HollywoodReporter.com

HollywoodReporter.com

But that’s not the only time he’s penned some letters by hand. Check out these other two notes that I found.

Arnie letter

This letter was sent to a Reddit user named Came Out Sideways who had revealed to the actor that his films got him through chemotherapy. Image: metro.co.uk

arnoldletter3

And then there was this note to Reddit fans (he’s a big fan of Reddit!) thanking them for wishing him a happy birthday in July of 2013. Image: dailydot.com

I might need to send him a letter – it seems I might just have a chance at getting a reply!

Sunday Notes & Letters for Week 27

This past week a certain handwritten letter caught my attention in the media. It was from a young lawyer from Chicago to his half-brother, Abongo, in Kenya. He tells him that he is planning to run for Senate – little did his brother know then that he would not only become a US Senator but would go on to become the 44th president of the United States.

 

A young Barack Obama, right, with his half brother, Abongo Photo: telegraph.co.uk

A young Barack Obama, right, with his half brother, Abongo Photo: telegraph.co.uk

The letter was sold by Abongo earlier this month for an undisclosed amount to a collector.

Check it out. There are some interesting statements in it. He reveals his lack of interest in meetings and campaigning, but explains his motivations for running. And the future president shows that he has some fine-looking penmanship.

pagesix.com

pagesix.com

Dear Abongo,

Hey there, brother! How are you faring these days. I received your postcard, along with the news that you’ve found a new wife. Man, I must say you don’t fool around! Please write and tell me more about her. A photo would also be nice, although I have no doubt that she is beautiful.

How is it otherwise being at home? I hope everyone is well, in good health and in good spirits. I understand that you have bought some property, and that you brought over a vehicle from the UK after all. Any other business ventures? I’m very eager to hear about everything, and trust that your hard work and planning will pay off in the near future.

As for me, I am very busy these days. As you can see, the book is finished and in the bookstores, so I have been going to various bookstores to talk about the book. In addition, some colleagues of mine here have talked me into running for the Illinois State Senate (like being an MP for a province, not the national United States Congress in D.C.) I have agreed, since I have an interest in politics to deal with some of the serious issues blacks face here. Of course, it involves a lot of campaigning, going to meetings and so on, which I don’t find so attractive. Anyway, if I win it will only be a part-tine post, and I will continue my work as a lawyer.

Michelle is fine, also busy with her work. My mum’s health has stabilized for now, but she is by no means cured and continues to undergo extensive treatment. Maya has gone back to Hawaii for the summer to keep her company, which I think put her in better spirits. Tutu, Maya and Mum all send their love.

Please send my love to Bernard, Abo, Sayid, Abongo, Silpa, Granny, your mum, and all the rest of the family. I have sent an extra, paperback version of the book to be passed around if anyone else is interested. I hope to hear from you soon, with news of happiness and success.

Much love –
Barack

 

Sunday Notes & Letters for Week 26

wikipedia.com

wikipedia.com

My beautiful niece Jacqueline rode a Ferris wheel for the first time this last week. Ironically it was on this date in 1893 that the first Ferris wheel premiered at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. I found this out as I came across a letter that was sent from the Exposition.

Designed and constructed by George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., the wheel measured 264 feet in height and featured 36 cars. Each car accommodated up to 60 people giving it a total capacity of 2,160 people! That’s almost three times the amount of people who can ride the London Eye.

After the Exposition ended, the wheel was transported to St. Louis for the 1904 World’s Fair. And then for reasons unbeknownst to me, they blew the thing up two years later. Weird.

stampauctionnetwork.com

Letter sent from Chicago on Sep. 22, 1893 featuring the Ferris wheel from the Columbian Exposition in blue at top left. stampauctionnetwork.com

stampauctionnetwork.com

The letter was written on official World’s Columbian Exposition stationery. stampauctionnetwork.com

 

Sunday Notes & Letters for Week 29

Happy Flag Day!

For today’s post I thought I’d share with you a post I found recently on the blog Culture N Lifestyle. They feature 22 images from Liza Kirwin’s book, More Than Wordswhich celebrates illustrated letters from a variety of revered artists and designers. From Frida Kahlo to Andy Warhol to Eero Saarinen and many more. It’s worth clicking on that link above to check out all 22 photos, but here are a few for your enjoyment.

 

Enjoy

Freuh

Alfred Joseph Frueh

saarinen

Eero Saarinen

smith

Joseph Lindon Smith

 

Sunday Notes & Letters for Week 24

A card from my friend Christy

A card from my friend Christy

It’s hard to believe that I am almost half way through my Year of Letters! It’s been an awesome journey (I sound like I’m on The Bachelor) so far and I am really looking forward to discover where this project takes me for the remainder of the year.

The responses to my letters have picked up, making it even more interesting. This week I received a half-dozen or so handwritten letters. I heard from Christy, a friend and former colleague, in New York who I haven’t connected with in a really long time. I also got a thank you note from my friend Heather who has beautiful handwriting – she’s climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro this year, perhaps I will get a letter from along the trail!

responses

Heather has beautiful handwriting.

You saw this past week that I received a letter from Anthony Kaczynski, the person who found my anonymous letter that I left up in Boston. I also heard from Korrin of Lovely Handwritten Notes – a project that I wrote to on Day 49. She and some friends are reviving it after a hiatus. Keep a look out for a letter to Korrin in the coming days.

responses-2

Korrin’s note to me – she also has nice penmanship.