Tag Archives: Year of Letters

Day 120: Rhonda

Posted on April 30, 2015 | Leave a comment

I’m the proud father of a baby rhino. Yep, check’em out here.

I didn't have a rhino stamp, but I embossed an elephant on her card. In Nepal, you can see rhinos, elephants and if your lucky, tigers.

I didn’t have a rhino stamp, but I embossed an elephant on her card. In Nepal, you can see rhinos, elephants and if your lucky, tigers.

Day 120-4

The rhino on my screen saver was happy to have some new company.

My boss just came back from a trip to Bhutan and Nepal and brought me back this little guy. Although she felt the earthquake, she had already left Nepal to travel to Bhutan when the 7.8 magnitude quake rocked the small Himalayan nation. I can only imagine how eery it must feel to realize that places you visited just days ago, monuments that you photographed and people whose eyes you looked into are no longer with us.

My thoughts are with all the people of Nepal right now.

Day 120-3

Rhonda,

Thank you so much for the hand-carved rhino – that was very thoughtful. I’m glad that you and the other travelers are all safe – what a devastating earthquake. I look forward to hearing more about your travels.

-Reed

My coworker Jake also received a rhino from Rhonda. He put his to work guarding some Trader Joe's Chocolate Covered Almonds. Sadly I have to report that two almonds were poached under his watch on the first day.

My coworker Jake also received a rhino from Rhonda. He put his to work guarding some Trader Joe’s Chocolate Covered Almonds. Sadly I have to report that two almonds were poached under his watch on the first day.

Leave a comment

Posted in Thank-yous

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Day 119: Lieu

Posted on April 29, 2015 | Leave a comment

I’m terrible at keeping my apartment in good order. So every once in a while I have someone come and help me transform it from a disaster zone back to an orderly living space.

I’ve known Lieu for about five years – she’s 74 and still keeps an active life. Sweet and motherly, she comes in and whips my apartment into shape. Along with her vacuum and cleaning supplies, she often brings something for me. She’s brought from flowers to canned peppers to Vietnamese delicacies. This time she brought me a Vietnamese wonton style soup.

When people take the time to do nice things for you, like bring you a home cooked meal, the least we can do is take the time to write them a handwritten note thanking them for their thoughtfulness.

Day 119

Lieu

It was so nice to see you today. Thank you very much for the homemade Vietnamese soup – I can’t wait to try it. That was very thoughtful. Maybe someday you teach me how to make it!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Reed

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Thank-yous

Tagged , , , , , ,

Day 118: Yunel Escobar, Washington Nationals

Posted on April 28, 2015 | 1 comment

escobarLast night the Nationals started a three-day series with the Atlanta Braves. The Nats have been slumping, but one of the players who has been producing both in the batter’s box as well as on the field is utility infielder Yunel Escobar who the Nats picked up in a crazy multi-team deal that sent pitcher Tyler Clippard to Oakland.

In the fifth inning Escobar had to leave the game after suffering an injury due to an aggressive slide by Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons into third base. I thought I would send the Cuban-born ballplayer a letter and wish him a speedy recovery.

Day 118

(Spanish translation)

Dear Yunel,

Welcome to Washington! We are very happy to have someone with your talent on our team. 

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons knocked Yunel Escobar’s glove off, and the Nationals third baseman out of the game. . (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons knocked Yunel Escobar’s glove off, and the Nationals third baseman out of the game. . (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

I’m writing you to wish you a speedy recovery – I was watching the game last night when Simmons hurt you. I hope that it’s nothing serious and that you can get back to the field in the coming days. 

Warm regards,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. Also, thanks for being a part of the deal that sent Tyler Clippard to Oakland – he drove me nuts!

1 Comment

Posted in Get Well

Tagged , , , , , , ,

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

 

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Condolences

Tagged , , , , , , ,

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!

 

1 Comment

Posted in Sunday Letters, Sunday Notes

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,