Postcrossing 20

 Today marks 20 years of existence for the Postcrossing project, in which members exchange postcards with others all over the world.  What started as a casual experiment by a postal mail enthusiast with computer database expertise has grown into an elite worldwide community of more than 800,000 members who have sent, so far, over 82 million postcards.  As Postcrossing reaches 20 years of facilitating global connections, it continues to thrive.  Despite perpetually rising postal rates, wars, and a pandemic that curtailed air cargo transport, a postcard is delivered every 7 seconds to 209 countries on the planet.  Cards sent by Postcrossing members have travelled a cumulative 10 million laps around the world.  In celebration, I have ordered a pack of commemorative postcards that are a reproduction of PT-1, the first postcard ever sent through the system by its founder, Paulo Magalhães.  I regret that I was not aware of Postcrossing until some years after its creation.  But once I discovered it over 12 years ago in October 2012, I have been an enthusiastic member and have sent 11,346 postcards to date.  Of the many, many hobbies I have, there are few I enjoy more.  So on this day, I wish Paulo and all fellow Postcrossers a happy 20th!