keep writing #152--we are not alone

Once in a while, I will meet someone and tell them I am a printer and they will say they have something I might be able to use. Once it was a whole printshop of type from a flooded house in New Orleans—the owner’s dad had printed a newsletter and now that he was gone, she wanted to clean out the type. She thought maybe her metalsmith neighbor could melt it down and use it. Luckily the metalsmith called me. Sometimes it is other printers, sometimes people just have some random stuff. I often take it. Even when it is busted, flooded, missing parts. Because I appreciate their generosity. So when someone from the neighborhood was getting a tour at my stusio and offered to bring by some cuts I said, why not. People dont often follow through and so what was the harm. A few weeks later he called me, and delivered a box of printable cuts. Only a few were corroded, and many were lovey. i felt very lucky. And like maybe I should use some printers cuts in upcoming postcards.

So December and January’s postcards feature printers cuts I was gifted from Jake. It seemed appropriately fitting that I was planning a special card for December. Long time subscribers may have noticed I often send a flat card in December or January, a sort of month off kind of gift. But this time I wanted you to send a card to someone special. Or anyone you think may need it. Like the mail carrier. When I was delivering food in 117 degree heat I almost cried when someone left a mini cooler of snacks and water. It wasn’t what was in the cooler—it was that they were thinking of me. Reaching out is the first step and it has a bigger impact than you may realize. There is nothing to send me, though if you want to take a photo of the card and tell me about who you wrote to in an instagram post, tag me! @hopeamico. and take care.