Exotic Chinatown

Another card adopted by Terry in Canada! She includes a lovely memory of going to Chinatown for birthday dinners with her dad when she was a child. My first Chinatown visit was to the one in Boston, and I remember going there with my grandmother. My first Chinatown visit outside Boston was to the one in San Francisco, which is much larger and more glittery and totally captivated me. I was a teen at the time and thought it was the most exotic place ever.

A Do-You-Remember-What-You-Were-Doing Event

Ronald and Nancy Reagan, during his recovery from assassination attempt in 1981. I was in Curaçao, a Caribbean island, on vacation when this happened. We didn’t hear about it until a few days after the shooting and the news we got was sketchy and not very informative. For a while we wondered if we would be going home to a nation in mourning for its dead president.

Michele doesn’t write much on the back, just a short paragraph mentioning the location of the shooting (Washington Hilton Hotel) and that two bodyguards were injured. I do find it odd when someone requests a specific postcard, but then returns it with such general comments.

Today is Nancy Reagan's 68th birthday.

EDIT: It was Nancy Reagan's 88th birthday on 6 July 2009. Thank you TL for questioning!

Did You Know?

Here’s Tricia! This card carries a memory from when she was traveling in the Canadian Rockies while pregnant with her first child. She really wanted to see bighorn sheep and got her wish, though a bit abrupt. The sheep appeared as they were going around the corner of a mountain road. The driver hit the brakes a bit too hard, Tricia went sliding forward, but all was fine and she didn’t get hurt. 

I love “Did you know?” cards. I used to get lots of them from Canada and Germany (the German ones are usually in German, but I get the gist). I know a lot of people don’t particularly care for all the writing on the front of a card, though, so I think the cards have gone out of fashion.

America's Best Idea

Linda, who sent yesterday's card, also returned this wonderful view of the Grand Canyon. This would be my ideal Independence Day vacation location. Standing somewhere in the 217 mile long Grand Canyon (albeit, far from any edges...I don't do edges) and marveling at the wonder and power of nature. It would be wonderful to declare independence from all that prevents us from enjoying, and preserving, our National Parks.

And with that, another plug for those in the US to watch the PBS program in September, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. And, with full disclosure, I work for a PBS affiliate, but even if I didn't, I'd recommend the program. I love our National Parks.

Gallows Humor

Cute… this card came back with cowboy boot and sheriff star stickers! This is another card returned by Linda and she includes some actual tombstone epithets from Boot Hill Graveyard in Tombstone; “As you are now so once was I - And as I am you soon will be - Remember me!” and “Here lies Lester Moore. 4 slugs with a 44. No Les. No More.” 

The gallows are reconstructed specifically for the state park. Macabre tourist spot! Although, I suppose no more macabre than visiting the site of the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts….

Bikini Weather?

Another mapcard for my UK collection. This one was returned by Domenic. He notes that Northumberland is very pretty but the sun compass is “a little optimistic.” He also says bikini clad holiday makers are unlikely as the North Sea is very cold.

Graz Redux

An Austrian blast from the past! Andrea says some of the shops aren’t there anymore, the market stalls have been modernized, and there are bicycles and no cars now. I like that last part best!