Ok, so I got this package in the mail…

Which, I mean, look at it…it looks like a bundle of loving excitement! But, then I opened it to find this…

Which was even more exciting.  But, then, I opened that to find all of this…

And I was in postal heaven.  Louise in England, you are amazing!  Thanks so much!

The package also included a lovely response to a past Question of the Week: If you could have a few more hours in the day, what would you use them for?

• My craft room needs tidying up because there’s things all over the floor!
• Bleach the bathroom from ceiling to floor!
• Read some books on pregnancy — I’m 30 weeks pregnant!
• Clean & tidy the whole house ready for our little girl arriving in December =)
• Make some baby crafts
• Rest a little?!?!

Hehee xx

• Make some envelopes.  I’ve run out!

First of all, Louise, congratulations on your baby girl!!  I hope everything is going beautifully for you and your family.  Secondly, expect a little something in the mail soon, and more later!  Your package was truly lovely and put a big smile on my face.

Also, Louise has a fantastic blog, so definitely check it out!

A friend of mine has an amazing postcard collection she shares on her website.  You should probably check it out.  This link will take you to a particularly fun post celebrating the official start of the USPS back in 1789!

I think it’s time for a new question.  I’ve been keeping rather busy and, it seems, trying to fit more hours into a day than there actually are.  Too much push and not enough sleep meant that this girl ended up having to take a sick day today.

With that in mind…

If you could have a few more hours in the day, what would you use them for?

Right now, I’m thinking sleep, but, knowing myself and all these big dreams I have, I don’t see that actually playing out. ;)

Please send your lovely handwritten responses to:

Lovely Handwritten Notes

P.O. Box 2674

Washington, DC 20013

United States of America

If you’re wondering what the Question of the Week is and how it works, start here.

Another question that is always up for grabs is:

What is something just really nice (a story, a joke, a quote, something you’d just like to say, a drawing, really, anything you can think of…) that you’d like to send my P.O. Box to bring it back into the sunshine so that I may then share all of the lovely mementos it receives from around the world on this here website so that not only I, but many more can benefit from their warmth?

I look forward to receiving and sharing your letters.

It has been nice finally getting caught up on some of the lovely mail I’ve received over the past couple of months.  Life gets so busy, but I think it’s always important that we make sure to schedule in the time to do the things that just make us smile.  So, in between work, studying, volunteering, networking…I’m trying to get back into also just being creative, reaching out to those I love, and having a good time with this bright little life we all get the chance to live.

This letter arrived in my box back in June, and was in response to the following Question of the Week: Tell me about where you live or where you are from.  How does it look, feel, smell?  What are the people like?  What do you love about it?  Is there something you would change about it?

Wren had a wonderfully detailed response to this question.  Here is what she had to say:

June 15, 2012

Dear L.H.N.,

In response to “Tell me where you live or where you are from…”: Those are two different places; very different!  I live in the deep south where I enjoy the greenery and warm weather.  I am very cold-blooded and this prevents me from living where I grew up.

I was born in Connecticut, but moved to Rhode Island when I was about 2 years old.  My father’s family is from Rhode Island, and have been living there since around 1780.  I miss the formality of New England.  I think it’s nice to get out of the jeans and t-shirt and go out in a dress or a skirt and a blouse that actually has a collar!  Of course the fall foliage in New England is a highlight.  My most fond memories are of my birthday (late July) when it’s a comfortable 85 degrees (at last!), having steamers and lobster seaside.  The best time and place to be is at the ocean in September, just after all the “summer people” have left.  How does Rhode Island smell?  Salty!  Like low tide!  Sometimes there is too much dampness and you need to turn on the dehumidifier.  In the winter, the snow will come in January and maybe leave in March.  Look out the window and count the birds in the birdfeeder: cardinals, chickadees, blue jays, tufted titmouse — lots of nature in R.I. — chipmunks live in the stonewalls that the pilgrims built.  Rabbits and field mice are living in the backyard. You can see foxes, woodchucks and raccoons, too.

The people are quiet and reserved and dead honest.  If they don’t like you, they’ll look you in the eye and tell you so!  Nobody pretends to be friendly; not even salesmen. There’s no second-guessing, and I like that!

My thoughts about my first home; thanks for the opportunity!

Best Regards,

Wren

I think that was such a beautiful description.  I could see what Wren described and feel myself there in the different seasons.  Thank you so much for sharing with us where you grew up, Wren.  I love how letters can make me feel like I’ve traveled the whole world!

Each letter that arrives comes adorned in its own details of its journey. Different postal stickers, scribbles of writing, postmarks, stamps, and barcodes.

And, yes, those are hamster stamps!

And then you open up these journey-soaked envelopes and find an equally diverse array of beautiful handwritten love.

Pavla from the Czech Republic recently responded to the following Question of the Week: What is your idea for helping save the post office?  It can be silly, bizarre, serious, quantitative, qualitative, or all of the above! 

Here is what she said:

Anyway, you’ve asked about our ideas on how to save the post office.  Well, I don’t have any (not sensible ones), but perhaps offering kids or people some kind of a reward might do the trick.  Like, for each letter you send you’ll get a special sticker and when you have 50 or 100 of them, you’ll be rewarded with something.  Silly.  :)

I’m glad that everything’s fine again with your P.O. Box, and I’m looking forward to your next question.  :)

Take care,

Pavla

P.S. I’m sorry for those hamster stamps.

Pavla, the hamster stamps were fantastic.  And thanks a bunch for sharing your idea!

I recently received a response to this past Question of the Week: What is something just really nice (a story, a joke, a quote, something you’d just like to say, a drawing, really, anything you can think of…) that you’d like to send my P.O. Box to bring it back into the sunshine so that I may then share all of the lovely mementos it receives from around the world on this here website so that not only I, but many more can benefit from their warmth?

This writer chose to send a story, and it was so funny and made me so happy that I found my eyes all watered up with joy on the metro ride home that day.  (It actually comes from a pal of mine I miss dearly!)

I’m a sucker for sealed with a kiss.

Here’s her story:

8/10/12

Milady,

This handwritten note is in response to your Question of the Week Aug. 9 — “What is something just really nice that you’d like to send my P.O. Box?”

Here is my story.

Once upon a hot summer night in a land called Little Five Points, two young freedom fighters marched down Moreland Avenue on a quest to blow off some steam after a long day of waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope.  On their journey, they seized control of a yacht, battled a nasty case of hiccups, left numerous voicemail messages, and put a house up for sale. (One of these dainty flowers also ate her weight in breakfast foods.)  To this day no one can agree on whether they fought more disease, waged more peace or built more hope, but one thing is for sure — these 2 Kirboans had a hell of a morning.

With oh-so-much-love,

Nicki

I have so much love for this lady.  Thanks for the laughs down memory lane, my dear.

This project is about promoting handwritten letters (which, in turn, promotes all sorts of other goodness, like kindness, connection, and cheer).  So, no matter how you choose to be involved—whether you’re responding to the questions of the week, requesting a handwritten note from me, or just sending a little “hello” yourself—you’re doing just what you need to do.

This little hello to the project came from Qatar.

Hello from afar,

Came across your blog via a retweet from another fan of letters.  I’m glad you take the time to do this for folks (and keep the USPS chugging along).  I travel a lot so am very happy to write a postcard though at times it’s difficult to determine who would want such an item!  Whenever I visit a city I seek out a post office and request 10 stamps to make it easy on the clerk, especially if we don’t speak the same language.  Acquiring these Qatari stamps the 1st time around was easy but accents were so strong I didn’t try to make conversation.  The stamps were of old world cup (soccer) posters — quite bland for a foreign country stamp.  Upon return to make mailings I purchased more and got these unique “creatures” of Qatar.  Much better, though I need to decide who will get a postcard with a stamp of an earwig.  Haha.  

Take care and hope this reaches you warmly…

This was such a fun and unique note to receive.  I can imagine this writer traveling the world at the same time that his or her handwritten notes also travel to and fro.  It makes me happy to think about the many ways the many places of this big world are brought together.

Sometimes my favorite things to receive in the mail are quick one-liners.  It can even be a postcard simply reading, “Hello!  Love, Me.”

How can something so quick leave such a big smile?

Thanks, Michelle. :)

It’s not Wednesday, but I think it’s time for a new question.  After all of my troubles with the post office these past couple of months, it has gotten me thinking a bit about one of the reasons I started this project — to help save the post office!  

With that in mind…

What is your idea for helping save the post office?  It can be silly, bizarre, serious, quantitative, qualitative, or all of the above! 

Please send your lovely handwritten response to:

Lovely Handwritten Notes

P.O. Box 2674

Washington, DC 20013

United States of America

If you’re wondering what the Question of the Week is and how it works, start here.

Another question still up for grabs is:

What is something just really nice (a story, a joke, a quote, something you’d just like to say, a drawing, really, anything you can think of…) that you’d like to send my P.O. Box to bring it back into the sunshine so that I may then share all of the lovely mementos it receives from around the world on this here website so that not only I, but many more can benefit from their warmth?

I can’t wait to receive and share all of your fantastic letters!  Have a fantastic weekend! :)

After a long stretch of an empty p.o. box, letters now are sweeter than ever.

Especially when life is in one of those stages where it is dancing so fast it’s hard to keep up.  I’m moving this weekend, and for some reason sold my bed a week early.  Sleeping on the floor leads to groggy moments come late afternoon.  But then, you get a little something like this from Jerimi.

Dear LHN,

I love your goal of reviving the handwritten letter!  There’s something inherently kind about a written note.

So here is a smile, sent with a stamp, just for you. :)

Best Wishes,

Jerimi

I smiled all the way home.  Thanks for the kindness, Jerimi.  It totally helped me defunkifize.