Tag Archives: handwritten letters

Day 360: Kendra and Travis

A handmade card and envelope .

A handmade card and envelope .

Kendra and Travis are a wonderful couple who live just a few blocks away from me. As you’ll read in my letter, I met them back in 2011 when I was doing my Year of Volunteering. I signed up to volunteer at the Our City Film Festival – now called simply Our City Festival. The backstory about the joke in the letter about the volunteer named Roy is that he turned out to be Kendra’s father. She was giving him a hard time and I thought, poor guy just came out to volunteer! It turns out he is a world-renowned eye surgeon and successfully performed my LASIK surgery two years later.

Day 360

Kendra and Travis,

Another year goes by and I sit down and reflect on it. I often think about those who I wish I had spent more time with – you two certainly fit that category.

I still remember first meeting you back in 2011 at the Our City Film Festival – and how you (this is directed at Kendra) were so hard on that one volunteer – Roy! He was way overqualified. So much so that I trusted him to do my eye surgery!

I always enjoy spending time with you, sharing food, enjoying beers and talking about how to solve the city’s, or even the world’s, problems. Somebody once told our friend Kim Perry that they liked the “way she moved in this world.” I think I’ll adopt that phrase and it use it for the two of you.

If you’re free on Jan. 5th I hope you’ll join me at McClellan’s Retreat in Dupont to celebrate my Year of Letters – speaking of which, you are Day 360!

Happy New Year!
Reed

Day 359: Santa Claus

Merry Christmas!

Today I share a personal grievance I’ve had with the pudgy, bearded one who bears gifts on this day. I’ve held this in for 23 years, but I simply cannot go on pretending like I’m fine about what happened. Because, I’m not.

Day 359

I hope you enjoyed the cookies and milk I left out for you – I see you left some of the cookies, you must be watching your figure.

Dear Santa,

Merry Christmas! I hope you made it safely back to the North Pole – you must be exhausted, delivering all those gifts around the world. Thankfully you enjoyed good weather in most parts of the U.S. – in fact it was so warm you must have been roasting in your suit.

gabrielleanwarI didn’t ask for anything this year. In fact, it’s been a long time since I have. It was 1992, the movie Scent of a Woman came out that year. While most people remember the film for Al Pacino’s portrayal of Lt. Col Frank Slade, my fondness of it is solely for Gabrielle Anwar – the stunningly beautiful brunette who glides across the dance floor with Slade in one of the scenes. I was in love with her and all I asked for that year was for you to bring her to me. Perhaps there wasn’t enough room on your sled or you couldn’t find her, but I was devastated when I woke up and found that she wasn’t under , uhm….the tree, that’s it. And while I did appreciate the photo you brought me of her, it fell way short of satisfying all of my desires.

Day 359-2Anyway, If you would like to make good on that today, I’d be ok with that and I’ll forgive the whole ’92 debacle. If you still can’t find her (I think she’s in Miami these days), I’ll settle for Charlize Theron or Brazilian model Adriana Lima. I’m flexible.

Thanks for all you do – it really is remarkable how much you get done in just one night.

Enjoy your 364 days off,
Reed Sandridge
PO Box 53065
Washington, DC 20009

Day 357: Chris

Day 357

The paper under this card to Chris is the Lotka paper mentioned below.

The holidays for me are always a time to reflect on the year – to reflect on things that I am thankful for. I’m fortunate to work with some terrific people – on them is Chris. She used to be my boss – then we added another layer of management (organizations like to do that!) and now she is my boss’s boss.

It is a real pleasure and honor to work on her team. She likes to write handwritten letters to people so I made her some homemade stationery from supplies I picked up at Paper Source.

Day 357-2

Chris,

It is truly a pleasure to be a part of our team – thank you [for] your leadership and friendship. It’s a tremendous part of what makes working at WWF so enjoyable. 

Some of the cards I made from supplies from my local Paper Source store in Georgetown.

Some of the cards I made from supplies from my local Paper Source store in Georgetown.

I know you like to write handwritten notes so I made you some stationery – if you look closely you may even see some Lotka paper I used as envelope liners – they’re a highly renewable fiber made from a plant from Nepal. 

Happy New Year to you, Paul & Ned,
-Reed

Day 352: Leo

Today has been a great day. I finalized details on the Year-End Celebration – which you should come to! It’ll be on Jan. 5th from 4-8PM at McClellan’s Retreat in Dupont. Come and meet many of the people who have been recipients of my letters as well as a few who even penned me a handwritten note as well. If that wasn’t enough – it gets better. If you make a tax-deductible donation to Street Sense, a nonprofit that is close to my heart, you’ll get some great drink specials and a special gift from me!

Today’s recipient has played a key role in my Year of Letters. It’s Leo – my mail carrier. He is friendly and courteous and always delivers a smile when I see him. My neighbors and I are extremely fortunate to have Leo and I thought I would give him a small gift to show him my appreciation. I wrote him a check and tucked it in today’s handmade card.

 

Day 352

 

Leo,

You are always a pleasure to when I am fortunate enough to run into you while you are delivering the mail in my neighborhood. Thank you for your kindness and friendship. Best wishes to you and your family for the holidays. 

Reed Sandridge

P.S. You’ve been a critical part of my Year of Letters – making sure all my mail is picked up and delivered properly. You’re the best!

Day 352-2

Day 349: Anonymous letter left at PSU’s Berkey Creamery

Day 349-3So this is my third letter I have left at Berkey Creamery this year. You might rightfully think that I have an addiction to this place. I do. Their Cookies-n-Cream is awesome. I kind of lover everything about this place, except maybe that they don’t let you mix flavors. Actually that is not entirely true, they did allow Bill Clinton to do it when he visited in 1996 – the 42nd president requested Cherry Quist and Peachy Paterno.

I got a salad for lunch and followed it up with a small bowl – I told her to stop scooping – of Berkey’s deliciousness. I had a few minutes and decided to write a letter while I was there. Today is the 9-year anniversary of my mother’s death. She was an inspiration for my Year of Giving, where I gave away $10 to a stranger every day for a year while I was unemployed. So I thought, why not marry these projects today and leave a letter with a crisp Alexander Hamilton inside.

So where did I leave the letter? Well, here’s a hint. Go to Berkey’s and buy a half gallon of my favorite flavor – you just might find my letter in the freezer!

Day 349

Hi there!

I’ve made a commitment to write a handwritten letter every day for a year. A few years ago I gave away $10 every day for a year – that project started 6 years ago today – Dec. 15, 2009. I thought I would pay tribute to that anniversary ad include a tenner for you.

I carefully embossed this silver tree on the card and then dripped ice cream on it. Ooops.

I carefully embossed this silver tree on the card and then dripped ice cream on it. Ooops.

Did you know that Berkey Creamery was closing? Not for good – but probably about two months. That’s crazy right? What will people do? While I understand they need to do renovations – we the people need ice cream! So I suggest you stock up today – maybe get yourself an extra pint (go ahead – get the gallon!) with the $10.

Enjoy!
Reed Sandridge

P.S. I highly recommend the Cookies-n-Cream.