Social Correspondence

Travel by Sea: New Zealand

Many years ago, while attending a conference in Long Beach, CA, I experienced virtually what it would be like to travel by sea on a luxury liner. The beautiful Queen Mary was put into service in 1936 and retired in 1967, to live a new live as a hotel. It is an elegant and timeless work of art, speaking to wealth in its historic time. During World War II, the ship was transformed into a transport vehicle for troops. Modern luxury ships do not necessarily appeal in the same way. Bounteous 24-hour dining, on board casinos,…

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January 22, 2025

Uncategorized

On Being Thankful

The following post, On Being Thankful, was first published on Social Correspondence in 2016. It was titled "The Benefits of Gratitude." A lot has changed since then. Perhaps some of our optimism has faded. But post Thanksgiving, it is good to be reminded of the blessings in our lives. My last post, A Short Respite, reflects this. I am worried about the future, while at the same time, am grateful for the good things in life. I am grateful for the beauty of where I live. I am thankful that my family is healthy, thoughtful, and…

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December 4, 2024

A Short Respite

Following the election, a short respite was in order. Despite flying from one blue (in more ways than one) city to another, seeing my sweet children and grandchildren brought renewed hope and refreshment. On my first day in Brooklyn, while the adults were all at work and the children in school, I took a long, restorative walk in the historic Green-Wood Cemetery and botanical gardens. Surrounded by thousands of plant and wildlife species, beneath the tall trees overlooking the vistas, the birds sang their beautiful songs, oblivious to politics or the future. Green-Wood is, of course,…

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November 19, 2024

Grandparenting / hiking / Travel

A Fall Beach Vacation

Beach vacation time is pretty much over at this time of year. Children are back in school and summer getaways seem like a distant memory. Today though, in the middle of a historic heat wave, a little splash in the ocean would feel good. Chincoteague Island in Virginia was the destination for my fall beach vacation. With family, including my two-year old grandson, we spent a memorable week on the island once famous for stories about wild ponies. My only previous knowledge of Chincoteague was from childhood, reading Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, first…

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October 8, 2024

books / email / Handwriting / Letter writing / Mail / mystery / novels

The Last Letter Writers

For years I promoted the joys of letter writing in my Social Correspondence posts, but often I felt like one of the last letter writers in the world. By letters, I mean the kind written on paper, stamped with the appropriate stamp, and sent to the recipient via U.S. Mail. Today, the concept of letter writing is not merely old-fashioned, but on the cusp of becoming extinct. Handwriting is no longer taught in most schools. Children who receive handwritten cards or letters in the mail struggle to read them. E-mail might be used for quick communications,…

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September 17, 2024

Uncategorized

Backyard Wildlife

As an urban dweller with a small backyard, wildlife in my life is somewhat limited. But perched on a hill, nestled between Glen Canyon and Mt. Davidson, the yard is not without its wild visitors, mostly avian. Resident squirrels still find unique ways to steal and eat the not quite ripe apples on my two small trees. And when fall arrives and the apples grow bigger and sweeter, the fruit will disappear altogether within a couple of days. Recently, I observed something green and different rummaging in one of the trees. As it peeked out between…

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August 23, 2024

Politics

Cat Ladies (and Gentlemen) Unite!

Cat ladies (and gentlemen), unite! Let us unite with dog owners and people who love their pets. Well, perhaps not with reptile owners. Scaly cold-blooded creatures as pets are appealing only to some of us. These thoughts are triggered, of course, by the remarks of the Republican vice-presidential candidate, J.D. Vance. A couple of years ago, Vance stated in a television interview that Democratic, childless women “are miserable.” While I am not childless, I am an empty nester who lives alone with a cat. My cat is my constant companion. Even at 13 ½ years…

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August 9, 2024

books / mystery

Becoming a Librarian

One of the best decisions I made in life was becoming a librarian. Still in my 20s, I took a year and a half break from full-time work to attend graduate school to get the MLS (Masters in Library Science). At this point, I had already had two careers. The first, as an entry level manager for The Emporium department store, involved long hours, working nights and weekends, and lasting foot pain. Standing all day, from crowded buses to the retail floor, was a killer of any social life. It was just not for me, and…

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July 27, 2024

Mail / Post Office / Stamps / U.S. Postal Service

An Abundance of Stamps

Recently, while reorganizing my desk, I discovered an abundance of stamps. More stamps, perhaps, than I will ever use. Among my favorites – Vanishing Species, Songbirds, Edward Hopper Sailboats, American Gardens, and others. Now I have a new favorite, issued by the USPS last month. These stamps feature spectacular images by American photographer Ansel Adams (1902 – 1984). Half Dome in Yosemite, the Sierra foothills, and the Golden Gate Bridge are among the stunning images. A year ago, 100 photos by Ansel Adams were on view in an exhibition at the de Young Museum, San…

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July 1, 2024

Letter writing / Mail / Stamps / U.S. Postal Service

In Memory of Alan Blackman: Letters to Myself

Alan Blackman: Letters to Myself first appeared in Social Correspondence on July 20, 2015. Mr. Blackman died on June 6, 2024 in San Francisco. Alan Blackman has had a long and storied career, as an artist, calligrapher, typeface designer for Adobe, lettering arts instructor, and three years working for the U.S. Post Office at San Francisco’s Rincon Annex. By his own account, however, his most significant work is Letters to Myself. Letters to Myself was a personal project first undertaken by Blackman in 1968. His then 11-year old son Stephen lived across the bay in Berkeley,…

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June 20, 2024