Be It Known-- Card Report #5

Eeeeevven thought I'm posting this on Monday, it's Saturday's card report. What can I say, I had a great weekend!


And Saturday brought lots of great surprises. There were cards from people Dad sailed with as a kid, and folks he knew from sailing and church and work as an adult. And, as he's now becoming accustomed to, lots from kind strangers. A few highlights:

• A friend of mine sent an envelope with a whopping 44 cards. There were birthday cards, sure, but also sympathy cards, get well cards, thank you cards and Christmas cards, each edited to fit the occasion. L, you're amazing!
• A friend of Mom and Dad's sent a package with a card, two dime rolls, a picture of a cribbage board, and a note saying that he fully intended to win eat of those dimes back playing cribbage.
• There were lots of cards from elementary school kids, which he loved. He said, "I think I should start making a list of classes to send thank you notes to." Cute man!
• Someone in New Zealand sent a $5 bill (in NZ dollars) and a note that says he'll have to buy the first drink when he comes to visit. Ten points for creativity to that person!

One of my favorite pieces of mail so far is this:

Yup, that's the largest piece of mail we've seen yet. It's a citation from the Governor of the state of Maryland. I never knew that one could get such things and it's lovely. It reads as follows:

Governor of the State of Maryland, to

ROBERT "BUBBLES" SHATTUCK, Greetings:

Be it known that on behalf of the citizens of this State, in recognition of your life's extraordinary journey, loving devotion to your family and the success, wisdom and life experience you have achieved along the way ... with congratulations and best wishes as you celebrate your 75th birthday and may your future be filled with good health and happiness as you find yourself surrounded by those who love, admire and respect you for your caring nature and strength of character; and as the people of Maryland join in honoring a beloved Marylander, we are pleased to confer on you this

GOVERNOR'S CITATION.

Given under my hand and the great seal of the State of Maryland, etc

Martin O'Malley, Governor

Anthony Brown, Lt. Governor

John Mc D , Secretary of State

So that's that. Another great mix of cards, and the first day on which card opening required a lunch break. 

Day 5 Totals

Card Count: 309

Country Count: 9

Anticipated: 42+

Australia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, US Virgin Islands

Who's Having Fun?

Best conversation with Bubbles yesterday. Here's how it went down.

Bubbles: Sarah, do you know who's having fun with this?
Sarah: You?
Bubbles: Yes.
Sarah: Me?
Bubbles: Yes, but you know what I was thinking? Everyone who's involved is having fun with it. Every one of those senders is having fun. I can tell; It shows in their cards.

Awesome.  That's all I've got. A big old high five and an "awesome". 

It Took Over an Hour-- Card Report #4

So Dad sent me an e-mail with the subject line, “It took over an hour”.

And Mom sent me an e-mail with her favorite quote of the day.  Dad, to himself,as he struggled with sturdy envelopes using a broken letter opener: "What did you find most difficult on your birthday?   Opening the cards."

 Both got lots of chuckles over here. 108 cards rolled in on Day 4, leaving our total at 175. I'm thinking day 4 (Saturday) or Day 5 (Monday) of mail delivery will bring a tidal wave of cards-- we shall see.


Here's a shot with two stacks of cards. On the left are the cards from Days 1-3, and on the right are cards from Day 4. 

And a picture of Dad enjoying his cards at the kitchen table:

And a shot of the cards he got before today. Do you recognize one in the bunch?

p.s. We got one card with an illegible postmark from somewhere in the EU.  I'll get more info on it, so we can try to track down the country of origin.

Day 4 Totals

Card Count: 175

Country Count: 9

Anticipated: 42+

Australia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, US Virgin Islands

Puzzles pieces are appearing!--- Card Report #3

So the Bubble is fascinated by the envelopes that have appeared with these in 'em:

This picture if courtesy of the sender, who divided up the pieces of several puzzles between a number of envelopes. My parental units are fascinated by the custom puzzles as much as they are the mystery of the puzzles-- but mostly they're excited that they got the corner pieces first! Corner pieces and letters from friends old and new-- It's the simple things really. 




Here's a selection from today's haul. There were lots of smiles in Oxford, I promise you that!

Day 3 Totals

Card Count: 67

Country Count: 8

Anticipated: 42+

Australia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, US Virgin Islands

Mission Accomplished-- Card Report #2

I have to say I didn't see this coming: Bubbles is absolutely convinced that there are 75 cards headed his way. Logical of course, but not something I'd thought of. We discussed how many he'd have to get per day to make that happen, and what would happen if he only got 74. "That's easy," said the ever-practical Bubble. "I'd just send myself one."




Rest assured that he is enjoying each and every card. He made a list and has numbered each card and envelope-- This from a man with no inclination to organize much of anything.  




And, he started opening cards! "I figured if the idea is to enjoy them, I should start enjoying them now." LOVE IT! He read me many cards on the phone, and D.K., I have to tell you, I think yours takes the cake. (D.K., who doesn't know us directly, by the way.)


"Happy 75th Birthday," the card reads. "That would make you approximately 27,365 days old. Wow! I hope you are enjoying every one of them. Best to you and the family. We all miss you here in Japan.  Dave  p.s. Come visit us soon."


Oh man, we got giggling! There was something about someone he doesn't know writing to him as if he did that struck Dad as incredibly funny. We got laughing about how embarrassing it is that we forgot Dave's birthday this year. And about how long it's been since we saw Dave. Then some of the other cards came into play. We said that we were so sorry to have missed Katie from Texas' Christmas party this year, and how we would love to go see Deb in Vancouver in the spring. It was fabulous. If this project is about producing joy and laughter (and it is!), mission accomplished. Truly, in a we could stop right now kind of way. I sure don't plan to (and hope you are still spreading the word), but indeed, mission accomplished.


Dad even suggested that they put the cards on the dining room table so Mom could photograph them for me. Yay for no more secret photographs!


"Sarah, I think you'd really enjoy these," he said. "Maybe when I've have a chance to enjoy them for a while, I'll put them all in an envelope and send them to you." 


Awwwwww... so sweet.

That's Mom and Dad in the "Happy Birthday Bubbles" photo card, by the way. Dad's in blue all the way on the left, and Mom's on the right, wearing white.

Day 2 Totals

Card Count: 31*

Country Count: 5

Anticipated: 37+

Australia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, US Virgin Islands

*Counting the one from his insurance agent, who always sends him one, and the hand-delivered card that arrived about a week ago. More on that one in a future post.

A Twinkle in His Voice-- Card Report #1

“I want to talk to Sarah,” I could hear Dad say when I called the house tonight.

“Did you know that I have friends all over?” he said with a twinkle in his voice. (I would say a twinkle in his eye, but I couldn’t see his eye and I could definitely hear it in his voice.) “Arizona, California, Washington, Spain, Puerto Rico, and Maryland. You told some people it’s my birthday, didn’t you?”

“I might have told a few,” I replied.

“Well whatever you’ve done, you’ve really had fun with it haven’t you?”

“Still am, Daddy. I’m enjoying this conversation.”

“I guess I did ask for a card, didn’t I?”

“You did indeed.”

It was a simple exchange really, but a fun one. He went on to tell me that he’s saving his cards to open on his birthday because he doesn’t “have anything better to do that day”. Grumpy man!

I’m thinking that by the time weekend rolls around, he’ll figure out that he’ll have more than enough cards to keep him amused for the day. Now he was 9 cards... soon hundreds, then thousands!

Wanna see the baby-sized card pile? 

Day 1 Totals

Card Count: 9

Country Count: 3

Anticipated: 37+

Australia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, US Virgin Islands

Ready, set, mail!

Today’s the day! It’s the first official day for mailing in the US! If you have an envelope ready and waiting, feel free to send it anytime between now and the 13^th. (Envelope art not required, but super-cute!)

Mom’s going to yoga, so if there are early-birds today like there were yesterday, it may be the first day that the old man gets some cards. I’ll keep you posted.  Eep!

By the way, humor and old age are clearly on the Bubble's brain. He sent me this yesterday. I laughed until I cried. There are no words!