During this month of October while I am busy churning out creative blog posts, I decided that I would feature a few guests along the journey. This is my first foray into the world of guest bloggers and I am excited to share their wisdom and beautiful views of this world with you. I had a few folks in mind who inspire me and whose writing and art make me smile, and my first guest exemplifies those qualities in every way.
I am pleased to introduce frequent missriki blog comment-giver and fellow personal blogger D.C. to the page in her very first guest post! A brief bio sketch from her blog reads:
I am Latitude3324.
I am a mid-century modern with character and flare. Just like a good piece of architectural wonder of that era, I too, stand strong on my foundation, offer intrigue as well as a sense of place, and much more organic in form than formal. I am creative and a closet artist. I love trying out new media, traveling, photography, dogs, and try to do my part to live more sustainably. (http://latitude3324.wordpress.com/)
I am constantly inspired by the way that D.C. views the world through her own very artistic lens, and when I came across this gem of prose on her own personal blog I knew I wanted to share it with you. Please sit back and enjoy this reminiscing moment with D.C.
I was recently reading a book where the character explained the sensations; the feeling of new stationary her aunt had left in the dresser drawer gave her. It didn’t take me long find myself back as a pre-teen pulling a sheet of extra thin paper from the bureau to write to my pen pal. It was a small sheet, about the half the size of a typing piece of paper, and so thin, I could have used it to trace in art class. It came with a pristine almost square envelope with the iconic red and blue striping on the edges, and the air mail logo. To me, it was a passport to another world. I recall placing lined paper underneath to guide my practiced cursive, and writing small to maximize the use of precious paper.
I was first introduced to airmail paper when my childhood friend moved to Cambodia, when her father was sent as part of his job. This was long before texting and e-mail. It was even before cell phones, and at a time when a basic telephone call to someone in the same city was done sparingly. Thus corresponding via “air mail” was the only option for us to keep our friendship alive. I recall not only writing but also the anticipation of receiving a long-awaited note from her. The sight of the similar red and blue edged envelope would thrill me to no end. I was also enamored with the foreign stamps in the top right corner of the mail.
Unbeknownst to me at the time I would be the one to move away next and the letters to my family would take on the normalcy of flimsy paper and red and blue trimmed envelopes. Funny how life has changed and now I get my news from across the world via Facebook or e-mail. News of celebrations or deaths, sharing of vacations or daily life is now as instantaneous as one takes the time to unload a photo or note. Gone is the anticipation at the mailbox, or the giddiness at the sight of that certain envelope. I now wait for that sweet little sound that tells me “I’ve got mail” from afar.
But I have not lost my sense of excitement when I wander into a stationary store. The smell of paper, the colors, the imprinting of monograms, the feel of the linen, and all the associated accessories… It is all about as thrilling as entering an art supply store. But that’s another whole story.
Thank you to my readers who have allowed me to share my guest with you today and to D.C. for allowing me to showcase her work.
**On a side note, I had initially asked D.C. to demonstrate her amazing skills in photography by featuring an artistic photo of an actual international “Air Mail” envelope, but after a short search and a telephone call to the US Post Office, it was determined that those precious onion skin thin, little blue envelopes are indeed a thing of the past.
missriki 