Tag Archives: Year of Letters

Day 136: Kevin

Posted on May 16, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 136-2-4Could you go back to school, sit in a class room a couple of days a week, do homework, take tests, etc.? I don’t know if I could although I have thought about it several times since graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania back in 1997.

My friend Kevin did it, in fact I think he’s done it twice making this his second Masters degree. This one is in Dramaturgy.

Trust me, 87-year-old Mary Higgins Clark is up there at the podium.

Trust me, 87-year-old Mary Higgins Clark is up there at the podium.

Today I had the honor of joining him while he participated in Catholic University’s commencement – an event that brought me back to my own university days and the feelings I had as I finished my four, ehm, five years of studies there. Mary Higgins Clark gave the keynote speech – a bit disjointed but hell, she’s 87 years old. She rocked!

Congratulations to Kevin and all those who are wearing caps and gowns this spring.

Day 136

Comhghairdeas (that’s Irish for Congratulations)

Kevin,

Day 136-2Congratulations on your M.A. in Dramaturgy. Your continual desire to hone your skills, expand your knowledge and practice what you have learned inspires me. I’m sorry I can’t stay for lunch – but let’s find a time to let me treat you to a few pints to celebrate.

With admiration,
Reed

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Day 134: Danny Glover

Posted on May 14, 2015 | 1 comment
photo: apwu.org

photo: apwu.org

So this one is just crazy.

So earlier today I got a text message from my friend Nicole saying:

“Hey, if you’re home and have some free time, would you like to drive Danny Glover from my office to the Hill?”

I happened to be home and didn’t have any more calls/meetings for the day and rarely have opportunities to drive around famous actors in my car, so I said sure. Well, not exactly. I called her to remind her that my 2000 Jetta is not exactly easy on the eyes and today it was decorated with a vulgar amount of pollen. I hear Nicole take the phone away from her mouth, “He says is car is not very clean,” she tells him. Mr. Glover said he didn’t care.

She would later tell me how kind and down to earth he is. I didn’t find that out for myself because I got caught in a rare 4pm traffic jam. Even thought it didn’t happen, it still made my day.

Day 134

I wrote this letter on stationery that Nicole gave to me earlier this year to help support the Year of Letters project.

Dear Mr. Glover,

Our paths nearly crossed today when my friend Nicole called me to ask if I was free and able to drive you over to Capitol Hill – unfortunately I got stuck in traffic and got there about two minutes after you took a cab.

I would have loved the opportunity to meet you. Not only because I’m a fan of you and several of your movies, but also because I understand you are here to support postal workers across the country and I stand with you on that. I’ve embarked on a year-long commitment to send a handwritten letter to someone every day – you’re day 134! I’ve noticed that letters are now taking much longer to arrive – sometimes several weeks for domestic mail which is ludicrous.

Day 134-2The men and women mail carriers that I know are wonderful, hardworking people. Tomorrow’s letter, Day 135, is to Postmaster General Megan Brennan telling her that I stand with the postal workers!

Thanks for all that you do for so many great organizations. Maybe I’ll see you the next time you’re in town.

Reed

P.S. It’s probably best you took a cab – the outside of my car was covered by an embarrassingly thick layer of pollen.

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Day 131: Howard Schultz, Starbucks

Posted on May 11, 2015 | Leave a comment
Photo: Starbucks.com

Photo: Starbucks.com

Wow, it’s easy to get behind on posting to the blog. Don’t worry though…the letters are still going out, at least one a day.

Today I’m sharing my letter to Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz. You may recall a few months ago the coffee giant launched an initiative called Race Together. The results were mixed at best (I’m being kind – it received some very strong criticism), but I commend Mr. Schultz and Starbucks for taking the risk.

Day 131-2

Dear Howard,

About two months ago, Starbucks launched the Race Together initiative. While I know that the results were not what you hoped for, I want to congratulate you for being bold enough to take on this topic. From his jail cell in Birmingham, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” Thank you for breaking the silence.

Coffee shops have their roots in bringing people together for conversation. You attempted to help facilitate a dialogue that we desperately need. While Baltimore and Ferguson are easy to focus on, we need not look further than our own neighborhoods to see that we still have a long way to go to improve racial harmony in our country.

I generally hold disdain for corporate leaders who use their status to further agendas that fall outside of their stated responsibilities to shareholders, but when the issues are as paramount and universal as race, equality or conservation – I feel it is not only your right, but your duty to help bring people together, break down discriminatory practices and operate in a sustainable manner.

Keep up the good work and let me know what I can do to help.

Best,
Reed

P.S. I wrote this letter to you over a doppio espresso at the Starbucks at Connecticut and R in Northwest Washington, D.C.

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Day 128: Dale & Leslie

Posted on May 8, 2015 | Leave a comment

Dale grew up a few blocks away from both houses I lived in in Mechanicsburg, PA. We went to the same schools and played on the same baseball team. After graduation, we went separate ways and I lost contact with Dale. Then came Facebook and we were in touch – well sorta. Facebook is kind of a pseudo connection.

Day 128-2

My thank you note in front of a print that I bid on and won at the auction. That’s the Georgetown harbor in 1865.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to get a Facebook message from Dale on Tuesday asking if I was free on Thursday – he had a few extra invitations to a charity fundraiser in DC – two blocks from my apartment no less.

It was a lot of fun. The event was nice, I got to meet Dale’s wife Leslie, his boss Mr. Bunn, and hang out with another high school friend, Justin. I’m thankful that Dale reached out – it was a great night and I enjoyed spending time with old friends.

Day 128

Dale and Leslie,

It was great to spend time with you on Thursday – the gala was a lot of fun. Thanks for thinking of me and extending the invitation to join you. I get back to Mechanicsburg a couple of times a year – it would be great to get together on one of those visits.

Thanks again!
Reed

P.S. Please pass on my thanks to Mr. Bunn as well.

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Day 127: María

Posted on May 7, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 127-2I met María in 1998 when I was sent to Madrid on a business trip. Working for my company as a public relations manager, María was one of my favorite colleagues.

Now 17 years later we remain in touch. She occasionally goes to New York and we tried to meet up last year, but it didn’t work. And I’ve been talking to my Dad about traveling to Spain – a place that he says that he’d like to visit. But that hasn’t happened yet. Maybe this year will prove successful.

Today is her birthday – Feliz cumpleaños María!

Day 127

(translated from Spanish)

Dear María,

Happy birthday! I hope that you have a wonderful day. If I’m not mistaken, we’ve been friends now for 17 year. I’m sorry that I’m so terrible at writing – that’s part of the reason I started the Year of Letters, to be better at maintaining contact with the people that are important in my life.

I hope that this year we are able to get together – either NYC or Madrid?

A big hug,
Reed

 

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