I have been a member of postcrossing exactly 12 days. In those 12 days I've sent 8 postcards and have checked my account at least twice a day. Basically, I've become neurotic. So far 4 of the postcards have been received and my map looks vaguely like childish drawing of a bird... sorta. Oddly enough, the postcard to Germany took the least amount of time to arrive out of all the ones I've sent thus far. It arrived 5 days from when I dropped it off at the post office and traveled over 5000 miles. My postcard to California traveled 375 miles and took 9 days. I think its a sign of my neurosis that Im going to start comparing the travel time to postcards to western Europe and within the United States to see which arrive faster on average.
Anyhow, on a more cheerful note- Im sending out more cards to people tomorrow... which I will inevitable wonder about constantly until I see they've arrived. Also in the mail today I got a netflix movie. I was so excited to open it but unfortunately found it was broken in half and unwatchable. Hopefully the postcards I send tomorrow will arrive at their destination in better shape.
Below is an image of one of my favorite postcards I've been able to find locally. I find it hard to find ones that arent about Las Vegas specifically so it was wonderful to find one about the State. Not just state facts or the shape of the state with our flag but about the wildlife here in the desert.
Wild Mustangs are not an uncommon sight just outside of Las Vegas in the hills and mountains. Though the ones I've seen look like they eat a bit better. According to the BLM the people of Cold Creek, a small town at the base of one of the mountains known to home a heard of mustangs, leave feed for the animals in there front lawns and have built water troughs so they stay hydrated. For this reason they are pretty used to people and will let you get fairly close to them.
I've never touched one myself, mostly because Im afraid of being kicked or bitten, but apparently the heard at Cold Creek will let you. Its strange to think of something so wild and free being so close to home where the land has been conquered by man and his technology but its absolutely breathe taking. Which is why I bought multiples of these to send to people. I've written the same quote on the back of most of them. 'I can see in them an expression of my own restless spirit. Charged with an appetite for adventure they take to the land without hesitation.' (Flicka)
The qoute continues on 'There was once a time when Americans came west to discover their destiny. Today they seem to move around in every which where, restless and unsettled, but I think they're still looking for the same thing: a place where they can be optimistic about the future, a place that helps them be who they really want to be, so they can feel that this life makes sense.' Unfortunately I didnt have the room to write this all on the postcard, but I feel its a very accurate description of life in modern America; at least in the big cities. We rush about our lives trying to get to some unseen end. Short term goals and the steps to get there but never the slow easy laid back aproach. Time is limited, and in a world where everything is defined by time we feel we can never stop, but sometimes you have to. I guess thats why Im so obsessed about seeing when the postcards arrive because every extra day it takes is one less I have to collect more and send more.
Wishing you all great post and full mailboxes,
Sarah
