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Postcards that I’ve received and look at daily as I walk to my front door:D

Do you  dread the mail as much as I do? Bills and junk and nothing too exciting? Is a picturesque postcard simply a blast from the past? From a time when facebook, twitter and gmail didn’t even exist? Well, it was a good time-as much as technology made communication for travellers easier, the good ‘ol postcard still has a place in my heart.

I can remember being on holiday as a child and going to the post office with my grandmother in England, to send a message back to my mom and dad. It was a routine that thrilled me as I felt like such a grown up choosing the right picture, getting the stamp and writing about what I had seen and done. I imagined my parents smiling at my experiences, and it made me even happier. On the other side of the postcard spectrum, I can recall first setting eyes on that rectangular picture card amongst the white envelopes and junkmail, and immediately studying the written words describing my penpals’ journey on the other side of the world. When I was at camp or with other family members, I cherished the notes my folks sent from parts of the globe that had monkeys or big city lights. Perhaps this is when my wanderlust began.

But with emailing and blogging and simply updating your status options, postcards are almost a forgotten form. There are faster ways of sharing your travelling joys with everybody in your life. Just one group message with a photo attachment and it’s easy to get back to experiencing the experience of being away. Buying a SIM card at the airport with a small data package and you’re completely covered with an unlocked phone. Or connecting to the growing wifi world with a laptop or a tablet-piece of cake. Within 5 seconds of taking a picture in Borneo recently, my parents looked at the same picture on their desk computers just moments later. With a one line commet, they were completely up to date.

Christmas messages duplicated in the stamp!

I’ve even learned about animals I’ve never heard of-from a stamp!

Though there can be a personal touch in this communication, it can never replace the postcard. This is why I still fill up my travelbag with cards whenever I see them, and a surplus of pens, and the postoffice circled on my map-wherever I go. I dedicate an evening or an afternoon with a coffee or a glass of wine, and I fill in the blanks. If I spill my drink I have more to write about. I change my handwriting to printing, printing to block letters, block letters back to handwriting. This is the art of the postcard.

The people I choose to write to has changed ever so slightly over the years. Always family members and close friends, and those that simply reciprocate the process when they are traversing around the globe. If you’ve sent me a Christmas card, chances are, you’ve received a postcard or two. With just three or four lines, I can update those that make the list, with events and doings in my life-in addition to the travelling adventures. There are some people on my list that I haven’t seen in years, but we keep tabs on each other with our postcards. I value that they took the time to put pen to paper. As soon as their card makes it to my letterbox, it’s tacked up on my wall as a memento of travels by all. Some cards are modern with a classy frame, others are cheesy and faded-all are appreciated.

It took me a loooooooooong time to line up and get these stamps at the post office in Tanzania!

I know I’m clinging on to some old-school ways, but it’s part of who I am as a not so technical blogger. Some might see it as a generational thing as I’d much prefer to write something by hand than play a game of ‘Angry Birds’ (or whatever the latest game craze is). When I completed the solo year around the world there were regions I crossed that were not connected-postcards became a diary of sorts. I sent a card to my 90 year old great uncle Frank from every country, state and province I toured. As he never owned a computer, wrote emails or blogs-it was the best way for me to reach him with a flavour of my travels. I know he cherished the connection. He had a fall when I was away, and needed to stay in the hospital for a few weeks. I managed to call the nurses station from Brazil, but was told he couldn’t take calls. When I pleaded and said I was calling from South America, the nurse choked on her words.

So many stories to tell…

Picture perfect cards-my favourites are usually printed back in the 80′s!

“Oh you must be Fiona?! Give me a second dear, I’ll get the phone over to his bedside. And I loved your card from Chile-Frank has brought them with him.”

I couldn’t stop the tears.

Love.

From a postcard.

When I returned from the trip, I put all of the cards into one book for him. We would stay up late talking and recollecting shared memories, which included the postcards that he received. Frank passed away and the book was recently returned to me. I now cherish it as my own diary of the 24 countries I travelled through, and a smile on the face of my favourite uncle.

So I do embrace the world with my keyboard, but I will never stop sending postcards. The stamps tell a story. The state of the card tells a story. I often get back home and the postcards I sent weeks earlier, arrive after me. But their worn corners and folds tell another story. That card passed through many hands before arriving at your front door- those hands are a part of the story.

I’ve started sending cards to some of the subscribers from my blog. I’ve never met them in person, but they responded in comments when I asked on an earlier blog who likes cards. I don’t consider it a burden to take a few extra moments to give them a personal touch of my travels. And I sure appreciate the cards I get back.

A postcard thanks from a favourite reader

This Cambodian card arrived a little worn & torn!