Tag Archives: handwritten letters

Day 117: Robert

Posted on April 27, 2015 | Leave a comment

My friend Robert lost his father recently. As is the case more and more, I heard the news on Facebook – which is always an oddity for me. You want to show support but don’t necessarily want to “like” it on Facebook. So I decided to drop him a handwritten note.

Day 117 tequila

I got this shot glass at a going away party for Robert when he left DC a few years ago. Seemed fitting to us it today.

Robert was back in Louisville, KY this weekend with his family as they came together to celebrate his father’s life. And while I felt sad for my friend and his family, I could see through the photographs that they truly celebrated his life. And if his father is anything like Robert, he wouldn’t have wanted people to be sad, he probably would have preferred everyone to take a shot of tequila and get back to contributing to our community (unless that involved driving!)

So…here’s to Robert’s dad!

Day 117

Robert,

I’m so sorry to hear about your father. I can only imagine what a wonderful and interesting man he was. It’s never easy losing the people we love the most and I hope that it somehow comforts you to know that others are keeping you in their thoughts.

Lots of love to you and your family,
Reed Sandridge

 

 

 

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Sunday Notes & Letters for Week 18

Posted on April 26, 2015 | 1 comment

Sometimes a handwritten letter can make things seem better. A note from our grandmother or a long letter from a friend living overseas, they tend to lift our spirits and connect us with the person who sent it to us – if even for just a few moments.

Photo: Garance Nelson

Myles with his letter from Vice President Biden as well as note from Rep. Gwen Moore for sharing his idea to make the world safer. Photo: Garance Nelson

I ran across a story this morning about a 7-year-old boy named Myles Nelson from Milwaukee who made my day a little brighter. Little Myles was affected by all of the gun violence he hears about and started to think of ways to make the world a safer place. Finally it came to him. He had an idea and decided he should share it with the White House and other government officials.

The Wisconsin youngster sat down and wrote out some letters. He wrote that he thought that “guns should shoot out chocolate bullets. Then no one will get killed and no one will be sad.” It took a while, but he got a handwritten response from none other than Vice President Joe Biden.

Here’s a shot of Biden’s letter to the young problem solver.

Photo: Huffingtonpost.com

Photo: Huffingtonpost.com

I like the way Myles thinks…I’m expecting big things from this kid when he grows up. And I’m hoping that Hershey’s or MARS picked up on this story and sent him a serious care-package of chocolate!

 

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Day 115: Adriana and Mauricio

Posted on April 25, 2015 | Leave a comment

mbrasilThere are a few people in Brazil that I would like to send letters to this year – here is the first one.

In 2003 I moved to Brazil to start a subsidiary operation for the company I worked for at the time. It was one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my life. Part of what made it such a memorable experience was the people.

Mauricio joined the company 12 years ago and was not only a terrific professional, but also a great all around guy. He and his wife Adriana later moved to Washington, DC and I got to know them both better while they lived here. I occasionally get to see them when they visit DC or I go back to Sao Paulo – but it would be nice to see them more frequently.

Day 115

Adriana and Mauricio with their running team

Adriana and Mauricio with their running team

Adriana & Mauricio,

Greetings from Washington, DC. I hope that my note finds you both well. I probably should have tried to write this in Portuguese, but I will save you the painful experience of reading all of my errors.

It has been 12 years since we first met in Sao Paulo. It was a very special time in my life – living in Sao Paulo and working to build Comptel in the Americas – we had a very special team. I haven’t been part of a similar one since.

Things are good here. I’ve been focusing a lot of time on the Year of Letters and a new venture that I am launching that takes art from talented artists who are experiencing homelessness and turning it into commercial products that will give them a revenue stream. It most likely won’t be enough money to fully provide for them, but it will hopefully help them in their journey of finding housing and reentering the work force.

Maria Helena and I are working together again – now at World Wildlife Fund. It’s been fun seeing her there and everyone I meet says how great she is – of course. We don’t work so closely together, but from time to time we’re in meetings together or we just get coffee and catch up.

I don’t have any plans to travel to Brasil right now, but would like to at some point in the not too distant future. How about you guys? Any marathons in the US that you will be running this year? Even if your races don’t take you to the US, you are always welcome here and have a place to stay.

I miss you both and hope that you are doing well.

Abraços,
Reed

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Day 114: Clint Robinson, Washington Nationals

Posted on April 24, 2015 | 1 comment
Photo: minorleagueball.com

Photo: minorleagueball.com

One of the great stories this Spring Training was that of Clint Robinson. The 30-year-old has spent his professional baseball career playing for a variety of minor league organizations. The Nationals invited him to Spring Training with the hopes of making the 25 man roster and what do you know, he made it! It’s the kind of story that makes you want to support those who have worked so hard for so many years for this moment. Clint earned it and I’m excited to watch him play this year.

Now if I could just get Clint to come out and help my softball team with our hitting. Bryce Harper joined us a few years ago – so it could happen!

Let’s go Nats!

Day 114

Dear Clint,

Congratulations on making the Nationals roster this year. I know that you have worked very hard to get here and I’ve enjoyed watching you play. That triple you hit off of Porcello deep to center in Boston was beautiful.

Day 114-2I’m intrigued about your bat collection. I am a bit of a collector myself – not of bats (although I wouldn’t be opposed to collecting bats) but of items that tell a great story. Speaking of stories, I heard that you have some miracle bat that you are carrying around that hasn’t broke in over two months of use. That sounds like a record probably for you – you hit the ball pretty hard.

Anyway, I’m excited to cheer for you this year. I’m a huge Nats fan and want to welcome you to our city and wish you a great season – and many more to come. Good luck tonight against the Marlins.

Reed Sandridge
(@ReedSandridge)

P.S. I read that your wife Samantha is expecting. Congratulations to you both. Enjoy this special moment in your life.

 

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Day 112: Anonymous Letter Left at Roger Dean Stadium

Posted on April 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 112-6I’m in Jupiter, FL today for work and decided to catch a minor league baseball game. The Palm Beach Cardinals were hosting the Fort Myers Miracle. Both are Class A Advanced Affiliates for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins respectively.

I wrote up an anonymous note, tucked it in a neatly addressed aubergine envelope and left it on a table that was right behind the home plate seats at the end of the fifth inning. Surely someone would see it there and pick it up. After the game, I walked by to make sure someone had claimed it, but to my surprise it was still sitting there.

I had pretty good seats!

I had pretty good seats!

I picked it up and walked outside. I was trying to think of another clever place to put it when I saw a mailbox for the stadium. Perfect! I dropped my note in there, we’ll see if anyone finds it.

Oh, and in case you were interested, the Cardinals easily took care of Miracle 7-2.

Day 112-5

You can see the mailbox where I dropped my letter just to the left of the door.

You can see the mailbox where I dropped my letter just to the left of the door.

This note is for you. I’ve made a commitment to write a handwritten note every day this year. If I could, I’d make a commitment to go to a baseball game every day for a year! I love the game and hope that you enjoyed tonight’s game as well. 

Best regards,
Reed Sandridge (Wash. DC)

The Cardinals beat the Miracles 7-2.

The Cardinals beat Miracle 7-2.

 

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