Two days ago, on Friday the 10th, we in the Birmingham metro area woke to a blanket of fresh white snow. For this area of the country, this is a rare event that happens maybe once every other winter, at most. Fortunately, this event was well predicted, which allowed nonessential workers like me to stay home and enjoy the scene from the warmth and safety of home. Area roads were, for a time, icy and impassible. So after the initial wonder at the falling flakes and a brief trek outside for few photos, I was able to concentrate on more pressing matters: Postcrossing. Houseguests and holiday activities have meant that I have not devoted much time to writing postcards lately. And with my status as Alabama's #1 Postcrosser to defend, I have been trying to catch up on my postcards over the last couple days of this unplanned long weekend. By tomorrow morning, Monday, I should have about 40 outgoing cards to drop in the mail. That includes several to Canada! The Canadian postal worker strike has been resolved, and the mail backlogs cleared, so the USPS and Postcrossing have both resumed sending postcards to Canada. I have really come to enjoy the contemplation and ritual of drawing an international address, selecting a card appropriate for the recipient, placing stamps, writing a short message, and addressing the card before sending it off on its (sometimes) very long journey around the world. Several cards I wrote this morning will be going to China, about as far away as possible on this globe of ours. Well into my second decade of this hobby, I enjoy it even more than when I first started.
And that rare snow event that gave me the chance to catch up on my Postcrossing? More cold weather and perhaps even snow is possible before the end of the month. Get ready, USPS, for another pile of cards! Write on.
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