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!

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.

Yesterday, I introduced Chloe as a letter pioneer, not letting the U.S. Postal Service stop her from getting me her letter.  Today, I’d like to share one of her responses to a past question of the week.  In her letter, she responded to every question that has been asked so far, and all of her responses were so thoughtful.  

I also really, really love her cursive.  It reminds me of friendship and shopping for antiques.

Question: Why are you interested in this project?  What is it that you like (or don’t like) about letter writing?

I have social anxiety, so don’t go out often and communicating through text is a lot easier for me than conversation.  Hand-written letters are the most charming and lovely way of textual communication, I think, because someone has taken the time to sit down and write it, and it’s often a lot more personal.  I’ve lost touch with many friends because we’ve added each other on Facebook, but never actually talk — whereas if I receive a post I’m always really excited and eager to reply.  I love the internet and it’s great for having quick conversations with people — but that’s the point; quick conversations.  Typing and sending is so instant, and people often reply straight away and one runs out of things to say.  With letters, however, it’s drawn out, so relationships have the ability to last much longer, with eagerness and anticipation over when the next letter will arrive.  I like your blog because it has given me a reason to write this long-winded letter to you (because you seem really lovely) and know that there’s less of a chance that I’m really annoying you! =p

I loved Chloe’s response to this question because I felt like I really got to know her personality, and I think it’s wonderful!  I love her sense of humor and her honesty.  I, too, find it easier to express myself in writing most times.

Thank you for sending in a lovely response to this question, Chloe!  And, you’ll have to be patient, but I’ll be sending you a letter back as well!

Emilie in Massachusetts recently responded to the following Question of the Week: Which day of the week do you think is the best day to receive a letter?  Why?

I loved how she decorated her envelope!  She found such a creative use for the material left over after you use up your stickers.  It’s so colorful and happy!  

Here is what she wrote:

May 24, 2012

Dear Lovely Handwritten Notes,

I really like your blog and the Question of the Week idea.

I think the best day of the week to receive mail is Monday. We’ve already suffered through Sunday when there’s not even a chance of getting mail.  It’s just too cruel to not get any on Monday too.  :)  Besides, most people go back to work or school on Monday and there’s nothing better to start off your week than a lovely letter!

My mail blog is: www.winniesgirl.blogspot.com.  I hope you have a lovely mail week!

From Emilie

You really can’t go wrong with a Monday letter.  She’s right.

I also encourage everyone to check out her mail blog!  It’s great!

Thanks for your response, Emilie!

My last Question of the Week (Yes, yes, I know you are all waiting for a new one.  I shall deliver soon!) asked, “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?”

Ryli in Wisconsin read this question, and then took her heart, put it on paper, and folded it safely into this soul-soaked enveloped.

In with the letter was a brown feather.  It’s like a little token that declares, “I am.”

What I loved the most about Ryli’s response to this question was that it was gritty and honest.  I was in a bit of a gritty, honest mood myself when I received it, so we made a nice pair.  I love when people can speak without fear.  Here is what Ryli wrote about where she is from:

June 18th, 2012 (Monday)

— 10 more days —

Hello,

I live in southern Wisconsin.  It’s a place most people know around here for trouble.  Sluts.  Sex.  Drugs.  Alcohol. Feels like a stuffy, overcrowded, but abandoned town in the summer, and the winter, everyone is family.  Smells like shit on the outskirts and fish by the river.  Just a normal town. The people.  Well, I’m 17 and going into my senior year.  It’s summer too. So, “my” people are bitches.  Only want you when you have something they need, either money, sex, and/or a car.  The nights are what most live for here.  On weekends, we get to cruise the strip.  A big racing spot in the middle of town, the biggest main road we have.  Usually we live for the trucks, from the new ones or the rusted.  The girls ride for the hicks and the guys ride to race and for the chicks.  It gets old, but it’s fun as hell. Janesville is a place of boredom.  Us high schoolers go to Walmart, the strip mall, or a park for fun in the damn hell hole.  

What I love most about it is that it’s a place for living with no regrets and living for the moment.  Don’t hesitate, just do it.  Once I grow up, I’ll move away and always have stories to tell about good ol’ Janesville.  And if there was anything I could change about it, is where it’s located on a map.  I sure as hell wish it was closer to Rochester, NY. My love and I met a year ago online, I’m finally meeting him in 10 days.  Flying there and staying at his house for 10 days. The day I fly, I will not be able to function.  We have a checklist to do:

• Niagara Falls
• Concert
• Star gazing
• Amusement park
• Hiking
• Park/picnic
• iPod switching
• Cuddle
• Etc.

Just to name a few!

But yeah, that’s my home.  Shitty, but it’s what I live for and now.

— R

Ryli, thank you for your honest response.  I hope you have a lovely and safe trip to New York!  I’ll be writing you soon.  :)

I’m still behind in my posts.  BUT…I did respond to eighteen requests for lovely handwritten notes this evening!

I look forward to flooding the postal system with art in the morning.  :)

Also, I know I skipped the Question of the Week on Wednesday…I’m sorry.  I vote we start fresh next week!

Morgan is from Australia, and she recently wrote into the project in response to the following Question of the Week: If you could receive a handwritten letter from anyone throughout history, who would it be? Why, and what do you think they would tell you?  What would their letter be like?

Her letter was complete with cheerful pirates.  These pirates had glitter on their clothes and on their canons.  I am a member of the party that believes that a little glitter makes the world a much happier place.

Here’s her stupendous response:

Friday 18th May 2012

Dear Lovely Handwritten Notes,

In response to this week’s question, I would choose to receive a letter from Michelangelo.  In my mind, this letter would be on yellow parchment with paint and ink stains all over it.  His writing style would be extremely cursive, but rushed as I expect he was a busy man.  I chose Michelangelo because he is an extremely influential art historian.  He was a known sculptor, painter, architect, and poet.  He created the magnificent works of “David,” “The Creation of Man,” and he painted the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling.  All incredible achievements.

I believe he would talk about how busy his life is and all the demands and commissions he receives.  He saw himself as a sculptor, but his paintings were just as incredible.  If we were corresponding, I would ask him about what he believed were his favourite works.  I think I would also ask him if he regretted not marrying or having kids, but spent his whole life centered around his work. Anyway, that would be my historical figure I would love to hear from.

— Morgan

An art lover myself, I agree with Morgan that this would be a wonderful letter to receive.

Thanks for writing in! :)

I got so wrapped up in the loveliness of all the handwritten responses filling my mailbox that I almost forgot it is Wednesday.  That means you all need a new QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

There has been a theme in many of your letters to me revolving around the idea that letters preserve history and that sometimes they are the best medium for saying what needs to be said.

With this thought in mind, here comes this week’s question…

What is something that you would like to be remembered for?

Let’s start preserving those special parts that make you — you.  I’m excited for these responses!

Please send your lovely handwritten response to:

Lovely Handwritten Notes

P.O. Box 2674

Washington, D.C. 20013

United States of America

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