.When was the last time you sent a postcard to someone while you were traveling? For that matter, when was the last time you received a postcard from someone who was traveling?
Postcards
Like so many other things such as hand-written letters and thank you cards, sending postcards has become a lost art. I’m not exactly sure why that is, but at the same time I am pretty sure it has a lot to do with the age of technology. With Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ alike, wait – not so much Google+ cuz there’s nothing going on over there. It’s not hard to understand why. It takes time to write a postcard, address it, adhere a stamp and mail it on its way. The process has taken a back seat to text messages and emails.
Today’s society, as we all know, is all about the hurried fulfillment of right now and how fast can it happen? Remember the good old days of, “Having a wonderful time, wish you were here?”
Here’s the Deal
Well, here’s the deal. As you know Abi and I will soon be hitting the road for a 2-month road trip around this vast country of ours and I’m all about the postcard. I love receiving them and I love sending them, so I’m looking forward to mailing a few as we travel. If you would like a postcard from a surprise location somewhere in the U.S., send me an email – Patti@oneroadatatime.com – with your name and mailing address and I’ll send you a postcard.
Or, private message me on our blog’s Facebook page. Unfortunately, I can’t send them out of the U.S. as most likely you’ll never receive it. One time I sent a postcard, from Cabo San Lucas, and my niece received it 6 months later.
So get in on the fun, won’t you? Send me your address and watch your mailbox for a postcard from somewhere in the U.S.A.
When is the last time you sent/received a postcard?
Instagram Feed
Postcards rock and I love to get them from friends when they sent them. Though that is a very rare occurrence anymore.
Mike recently posted…My Top 10 +1 Favorite Meryl Streep Movies
I’ll just have to make sure you get a postcard from us!
I still send the odd postcard although more recently I’ve been using a postcard app where you can use a photo from your phone. It’s really good fun and great quality cards too. I have a big box of postcards that my grandmother bought on her travels around the UK which are a lovely reminder of her – sadly she didn’t write on any of them as they were souvenirs for herself.
Suzanne (Travelbunny) recently posted…Venice from the Water
That is a lovely memory and had she written them to journal her travels, it would be extra sweet. Thanks so much for stopping by!
I miss receiving postcards. When I was growing up, I had a cousin who was an airline attendant. She sent me postcards from all over the world.
Donna Hull recently posted…20 Under $20: Gifts for the Boomer Traveler, 2013 Edition
Yep, finding a postcard in the mailbox from some far off distant place – there’s just nothing like it! Thanks so much for reading, Donna.
We sent tons of postcards when we first started traveling. Our teenage daughter collected them so we sent them to here when she was not traveling with us. We stopped years ago like most people – but that daughter is now grown up and has our eight year old grandson who wants postcards! I just bought postcard stamps for the first time in years. I’ll email you his name; I’m sure he would love a card from you. Thanks!
Jan Ross recently posted…Hidden Gem in Chicago: The Storefront Company
Thanks for sharing your story, Jan. I would be happy to send your grandson a postcard from somewhere in the U.S.A., and I did receive your email. Thanks for participating!
I’m all for sending holiday memories by mail –
Hence our little Australia Mail-It Map, which we refer to as being More than a Postcard as there’s just a tad more space.
I also created a little luggage tag shaped jotter that we supply with an envelope for posting home to yourself at trip’s end so you get some pretty local stamps and post mark dating the trip for posterity too!
I always send a few postcard to special friends when I’m away – and often even post one to myself to put on the fridge door when I get home to remind me of past trips 🙂
Linda ~ Journey Jottings recently posted…Take a Peek Inside Mary’s Watercolour Travel Journal
Thanks, Linda, for the great Journey Jottings ideas! I love postcards and I’m so glad to see all of the positive responses! Thanks for reading.
From the replies above sounds like sending postcards isn’t a lost art after all. I always send them to sibs and kids when I go on a “big” trip. I also send one to myself and usually beat them home. My favorite one was Cuba….some i sent came w/o postmarks. I was lucky, mine had one….and a pretty stamp. That one took so long getting her I thought it would never make it
I know, right? It’s great to hear, but I suspect there are a lot of travelers among us who appreciate the art of sending postcards. That’s a fun idea to send one to yourself and see if it makes it home before you do!
Such a lovely idea! I wish you a great trip! Enjoy! I think I’m a bit old school. I have two pen friends, I still send Christmas cards and I also write postcards when I travel!
Rita @ The Crafty Expat recently posted…Words by others – Part 7 (Eleanor Roosevelt on strength, courage and confidence)
Thank you Rita! I love old school – it’s what keeps the lost arts from being completely lost, if that makes any sense at all!
Hi we are planning for our world tour with our 220S 1957 Mercedes.I have bought a postcard book for our grandchildren, so they can put the postcards in when we are on the road and send these to them.
Thank you for finding us, Elisabeth and Fred! I think your post card book for your grandchildren in a wonderful way to keep in touch with them as you travel. And oh my gosh, I just looked at your blog and what a fabulous adventure you’re taking on. I am signing on to follow! Safe travels!
LOVE postcards! I don’t receive as many as I’d like though
Hogga recently posted…Why Everyone Should Go Eat a Pecker
If you were in the U.S., Lindsay, I’d be more than happy to send you one! Let it be known to your friends and family that you want to see some in your mailbox! 😉
We love sending post cards! Even before we left on our big adventure, we sent post cards to friends and family whenever we travelled. I also used them as thank you cards. When Jason uncle died about 1 1/2 years ago, his son found all the postcards we had ever sent him and gave them back to us. It was wonderful to go back through those postcards.
Kerri recently posted…RTW Budget: Three Countries One Month
What an awesome memory, Kerri, to have all of those post cards and they must have meant so much to Jason’s uncle since he kept them all.
I started sending postcards from my last trip to South Africa and I only beat a couple of them home. Then readers started sending me postcards. There is actually a postcard site to join to send and receive postcards from around the world. I like to get snail mail that isn’t a bill.
Gaelyn recently posted…2014 South Africa diversity Ecotour
I have a friend who lives outside of the U.S. and sometimes she will send me a postcard through a postcard service. I always enjoy receiving them.
I have a list of people I send postcards to when I travel to new places. A few weeks ago I was pleased to receive one from a friend, from that list, who was traveling in England. I love sending and receiving mail in general. Nothing quite like opening your mail box and having a smile that was touched by the hands of people I love. 🙂
Completely agree and letters in the mailbox are sadly a rarity these days.
Love the Winslow and Tucumcari ones- so Rte 66 in its heydat!
santafetraveler recently posted…Yes, we get snow in Santa Fe
I know, I thought they were really cool shots and seriously, you need to make it to Tucumcari!
Postcards are awesome!! Our family and close network of friends still maintain this tradition! Although we have all moved to emails so everyone can get regular updates, postcards are still a MUST when we travel. So the last one we sent was back in October and the last one we received would’ve been June…. It’s definitely not dying out yet in our social circle 🙂
2wisemonkeys recently posted…48 hours in dubai: this is what we did (part 2)
This is SO great to hear – good for you for keeping the tradition alive! Well done!
You’re so right that sending postcards is a lost art and it’s too bad! That’s why I’ve been sending postcards to a several of my blog’s Facebook fans on my recent trips (and trying to send more to friends and family, too). Sorry that the second postcard from Italy never showed up in your mailbox. I’ll be sending one to you from my trip to Europe in December to make up for it! 🙂
Have a fabulous trip!
Ha! Ha! No worries, Catherine. It will probably show up someday and I did get the first one!
I just received a postcard thank you note from a college friend who stayed with us recently when in town for a wedding. My husband thought this exceedingly strange. I appreciated it. I used to send them from my travels with many lines of tiny writing.
Suzanne Fluhr (Boomeresque) recently posted…Our Peruvian Honeymoon — 1982
Did he think it was strange because it was a postcard or because she sent it at all? Sounds pretty nice to me, and thoughtful!