I'm in the middle of sending Happy Halloween postcards, most featuring the artwork of
Ryan Conners, to
Postcrossing participants around the world. It's a great way to celebrate autumn and take some of the edge off the anxiety of this October. (You know it's a rough moment in history when you watch
Annabelle movies and think about how comparatively stress-free it would be to
only have to worry about being haunted by demon dolls while living amid 1970s decor.)
So it's a good time for a Postcrossing roundup, and I'm going to break this one into two parts. Today, I'm going to share some of the thank-you emails I've gotten from Postcrossers who received cards from me and wanted to share thoughts from their corner of Earth. Their short notes and insights are worth saving for posterity. These are from oldest to newest.
Hannes from Germany wrote: “Thank you so much Chris for the nice card with Romanian words! Thanks also for the information and the nice stamps! Yes, Romania has a beautiful Nature! If you'll visit
Schwarzwald, do also come to Bavarian Forest National Park in Lower Bavaria! You're everytime welcome! Wish you all the best for 2020!"
Anita from Austria wrote (in early July): “Hello Chris, thank you very much for your lovely card with nice stamps on too. It made me smile, cos this picture is soo me and my gingerboys. Especially when being on homeoffice too the past months, Lexi loved to sleep on my keyboard or on my scripts for work. Well the 'convid times' weren't so bad at the countryside. You could even be out in the nature and I enjoyed time in my garden too. These days we are back to the office again. I hope things will be 'normal' again or what we call the new normal. Stay safe."
Harri from Finland wrote (in early July): “Hello. Thanks to you very nice postcard and stamps, I like that. There is also a corona virus, 329 people have died. One is too much. The government immediately took a tight line and it seemed to work, good so. But we don't have your president, thankfully. Now restrictions have begun to be lifted. Florida seems to have come under restrictions, bad very bad. I have been watching the TV news now how there's cops shoot people on the street. Before I liked U.S.A. civilized country, I do not anymore, but all the best to you and your family."
Georg from Germany wrote: "Hello Chris! Thank you very much for the beautiful stamps on and in the envelope and your words - and especially for the card with the extraordinary cat! I´m a great fan of Banjo! All the best from Germany, take care and stay healthy."
[Note: If you're a longtime Papergreat reader who is keeping score at home, I have unofficially renamed Mr. Angelino to give him the name Banjo.]
Raisa-Hannele from Finland wrote: “My mail box smiled today there was a very interesting and nice card from you. I liked it a lot! We have the same hobby with books. I also fill the free libraries with books I can give away (not always many). My husband thinks I've a private library at home, but as he loves me he builds more bookshelves in every corner of our old house. Stay safe during these pandemic times."
Alena from Russia wrote: "Dear Chris, thank you for the marvellous card! I love it! And the stamps are very beautiful too! And that you for the long letter. Charlie Chaplin is a great film director, actor and composer! I watched Sunrise by Murnau and its really very good movie. Actually I love silent films very much. And I never ever see that poster for that movie so thank you! Safety Last is funny and I love it too, and also it is very dangerous adventure, amazing show."
Claudia from Germany wrote (in late July): “Hello Chis, thank you for your postcard. You are right - this year is Covid-19 year! Here in Germany the numbers of sick and death people are 'o.k.' - but now the holidays started and many people visit other countries and come back with? Hope, next year will be better!"
Astrid from Germany wrote: “Hello Chris, today was a great postcrossing-day. I received 4 postcards and everybody wrote in small letters an interesting story, as you did. Thank you very much. Also the motifs are well chosen! Your Postcard is a little bit creepy with the skeleton marionets beside the reading girl, but I like it. Stay healthy."
Gilles from France wrote: "Hello Chris, Many thanks for your card and the lovely stamps. I share with you the passion for animals, we absolutely must preserve biodiversity even if it is already severely damaged. I even think there is animal wisdom that humans should learn from."
Curt from Canada wrote (in mid-August): “Thank you, Chris, for your card. ... I hope that Americans get out and vote out the clown you have in power right now. He is certainly doing his best to suppress voters. The attack on the USPS is something I find unfathomable and can't believe so many Republican politicians are supporting him, either by publicly stating so, or not saying anything at all. Good luck. I know I will be watching in November!"
Antje from Germany wrote: "Hallo. Thank you very much for your wonderful Postcard! Oh yeah - years ago I thought that it is a scary thought *Mr Trump - President of the USA* - then he becomes Mr President and I was scared! I hope he wouldn't be re-elected. Sad but true - he keeps his election promise *America first* - most infected, most dead by covid. I hope you all will get the problem under control soon. Happy Postcrossing and Carpe Diem. Stay Healthy."
Moritz from Sweden wrote: “Hello Chris, thanks for your nice postcard and stamps! I googled scrapple and it sounds good to me. I've never heard of this before."
Judith from the United Kingdom wrote: "Hi Chris. Thank you for your card. I really don't envy you being a journalist at this time. Our government couldn't organise a booze up in a brewery. I like the sound of your four assistants. Molly assist me in cuddles, tummy tickles, and we have snoring competitions! Stay safe."
Pedro, a Brazilian living in Germany, wrote (in early September): “Hello Chris! How are you doing? I hope great. I am doing pretty good too. I just wanted to thank your for your beautiful postcard. It's really very nice. I am glad you sent it to me and not to someone else. Hehehe. I see everywhere (TV, Newspapers, Internet) how tough the things in the USA are. I am so sorry for what is happening to many journalists. All the police brutality is unexplainable. I just hope you're having a good time with your son and you alongside your family are just staying away from 'troubles' (from Crowded places). You guys are pretty much tough and you'll get through all of it. Here in Germany things are getting worse again. We're having daily increasingly cases of Coronavirus. Thank God by now we know a little better how to deal with bad cases, but we certainly do not want to exhaust our Healthcare like thousand of cases all at once. Well, Chris, let's do our best to not get infected. Please be safe."
Valentino from Italy wrote: “Thanks for the nice postcard. I really like it. I love all animals, especially cats. (This bad period of COVID-19 will surely pass, I wish you and your family to stay healthy.)"
Martin from Germany, who has 9,000 Postcrossing cards, wrote: “Dear Chris, thank you very much for your gorgeous postcard with the beautiful stamps on it. I really like it. At the moment I do store the postcards in boxes in the cellar because I don't have enough time. Waiting for retirement! Best wishes to you. Hope your mailbox is always filled up with cards you like. ... Please stay healthy during this crazy times of Covid-19 pandemic!!!”
Elizabeth from Australia wrote (in mid-September): “Hello Chris, and many thanks for your great card which arrived today. It's the third I have received from PA this week! Great to hear you are being sensible re: COVID. I, too, have been WFH since March but Tas [Tasmania] is in good shape - no cases in over a month as our Premier is being very sensible by keeping the borders closed - so my workplace is now encouraging a return back to the office (1 or 2 days a week) if staff feel comfortable."
Gisela from Germany wrote: “Hello Chris, thank you for the wonderful postcard. I haven't seen
'Tokyo Story,' but it seems very interesting to me. Asian films I appreciate mostly. I can recommend you:
Kim Ki-duk's 'Samaria' and
Lee Chang-dong's 'Secret Sunshine.' I can imagine that your profession is challenging these days, but an independent press is essential for the truth to prevail. So go ahead! Maybe in November times get better. Hopefully! All the best from Munich."
Lisa from Russia wrote: “Hi Chris! Thank you for the postcard. I was very interested to know about you and your cats, say hello to them and pet them. You have very beautiful handwriting and beautiful design of the postcard. You really made me very happy with your message. Best wishes."
Marina from France wrote: "Hi Chris! Thanks you very much for this beautiful Postcard. It was a pleasure to read you! So much informations! When I was a kid, my cat's name was Banjo too! It's so cooooooool to have many chipmunks in your country. Here, see a squirel is very rare. We have much pigeons. It's very cuteless. ... And once again, I'm agree with you: inspiring kid is important! Kids are the future. Thanks so much for this very interresting exchange. Stay safe."
[Note: "It's very cuteless" is definitely a phrase I'm going to use moving forward.]
Naoko from Japan wrote: "Hello, Chris! I got your envelope today. Thank you so much for the nice
Flatwoods Monster cards!!! I've liked Stories of Cryptids, Monsters, Strange Creatures and alien since I was a child. I love these creatures so much that I have these LINE stamps (
LINE is a messaging app, very popular in Japan.). Flatwoods monster stamps are so cute. I'm happy to add this cards to my collection. Thank you! But the most important part of this postcard is your long nice message, I truly enjoyed reading them! I'm so jealous! You have 4 cats! I like cats too, but because I have an allergy to cats, I can't have any. Wow, this is so nostalgic, I'm a huge fan of Resident Evil, I bought and played Code Veronica on the release date. ( I bought DC, Wii and GC just because I wanted to play the Resident Evil series.) I'm a fan of Norman Reedus too. Recently, I ordered online 'Death Stranding' of PS4. I think Ashar might know this, Norman Reedus plays the main character of Death Stranding. I can't wait to play!
He is so lucky! I haven't seen famous persons once. I live in a very rural area, we rarely see famous persons here. Oh, but my father has seen former
President Carter. When he came to Japan during his administration, he visited my village and fished in the river. I hope everything is fine with you. Have a nice postcrossing!”
Miyuki from Japan wrote: "I received great unique card from you. Thank you so much. I like this card. I’m glad that you paste cool stamps. Kyoto is a wonderful city, there is a World Heritage Site in Uji City where I live. Happy postcrossing."