Here I Am.

I'm over here, too.

Dear Inder

Inder! How are you? It's been ages since I've heard from you, so I thought I'd drop you a line--and I also thought you were more important than to just write on your FB "wall." (Hence the postcard.) I'm still here, in Toronto. So very little to Report. Remember that one time I had a dream about you?

Thinking of you,

Jess L.

Dear Frank

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Dear Frank,

So, I made this New Year's Resolution to write a postcard every day, and writing to you has been one of my goals since day one. It's not even a matter of reconnecting, necessarily, it's just that I hate to leave things unsaid. Anyway, I always feel like I've owed you a huge apology for making things between us weird. (That's not to say that I regret falling for you--I just regret the way I acted afterwards.) You were an awesome friend to me for a long time (well, in terms of the total time I've been in TO) and I'm sure you have lots of good things coming your way.

Thinking of you,

-Jess

Dear Auntie Bev

Dear Auntie Bev,

Happy Birthday! I'm sorry that I'm not there to celebrate it with you. Instead, I'll be in Montreal, visiting Chloe and probably purchasing shoes I can't afford. (Just because I'm soon to be jobless doesn't mean I should be shoeless, though, I suppose.) I'm really looking forward to coming home in August. (Jay will be coming with me.) Hope your bday was lovely!

-XOXO Jess

Dear Kyle

Dear Kyle,

(I can't help but wonder if you got out of the Edmonton rut you were talking about in January '09 when you were here?) Happy Birthday! Did you know that, in exactly two ways, you save my life and sanity in June-July 2002? You deserve an excellent bday.

Thinking of you,

Jess

Dear Jenny B.

Dear Jenny B!

Although this card will reach you after the weekend, I think it's never to late to say Happy Mother's Day! I was thinking, the other day, about the time you took me to stay at your G-Ma's in Crane Lake. We watched Grease (I had never seen it before) and spent a lot of time running away from/harassing the pig.

Afterward, I told Angela F. about it. She wrote back something that basically said, "Really? Why did Jen choose you?" Thanks for thinking I was cool enough!

-Jess

Dear Tee Jay

Tee Jay,

I'm making a bold move by responding to your Facebook message via postcard. That's just me--I'm all about bold moves. (Dance moves and otherwise.) Speaking of, did I tell you I'm planning on living out my dream of becoming Miss Universe Canada? It's the last year I can do it. 26 is the cut-off age--presumably because after that, my breasts are going to give up on life and sag to my bellybutton. So, look for me on TV. Also, I'll be in AB Aug. 11th -25th. Thinking of you!

-Jess

Dear Jeff W.

Dear Jeff,

Years after you left Cold Lake, I babysat kids who lived in your house. And years before that, I vaguely recall sitting in a saucer chair in your house while being babysat by my brother's best friend's older brother. And somewhere in between, I remember saying goodbye to you, amidst packed boxes and preteen uncertainty. I'm still kind of sad you moved.

Thinking of you,

Jess

Dear McSweeney's

Dear McSweeney's,

Your postcard set made my new year's resolution to send a postcard each day a heck of a lot more interesting. Thank you! Thinking of your (and smiling from the ocean's sweaty face),

Jessica

Dear Erin E.

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Dear Erin,

I was thinking the other day about that one summer right before you moved (grade 5? Although, if memory serves me correctly, didn't you move in grade 6?) and I'd ride my bike to your house to play every night. I'd always be late, so I'd set my watch back on purpose so I had a white lie to tell my parents. What do kids with cell phones do these day?

Thinking of you,

Jess L.

Dear Hal Niedzviecki

Dear Hal,

When I decided to write a postcard every day this year, I didn't think it would be much of a challenge--I have at least 365 friends, right? Well, I'm sending you, a dude I have never met, this postcard. Question answered? Truth is, it reminds me of your Facebook social experiments. And a such, thinking of you,

Jess

Thinking of you too.

Sending postcards is good for your self-esteem. Want proof?

Check out the newly added Mailbag.

Dear Adam W.

Dear Adam,

Since you were the first breakup I ever had, I figured you'd appreciate this analogy the most--quitting a job is just like dumping someone. You sit on the fence figuring, "Well, it might get better. It was good once." And after the initial relief of quitting, a sense of regret kicks in. Except with a job, no grand gesture will get them back.

Thinking of you,

Jess

P.S. Hope your move went well.

Dear Auntie Judi

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Dear Auntie Judi,

This postcard makes me think of your trip to Morocco. How is your spring going? I am excited to have some time off this summer--even if it means going on EI for a few weeks. I think I'm going to freelance write in the fall--might as well put that expensive undergraduate degree to use. Just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you!

XOXO,

Jess

Dear Katherine

Dear Katherine,

Happy Birthday! I hope your day have been pleasurable. I'm so ridiculously excited for summer plans. I'm going to Montreal next month for May long weekend and Nova Scotia in July. Chloe and Mike both came down and stayed at my place a week ago--it was like 2003 all over again. We played Risk. (I lost.) Chloe taught me a new game, which we'll have to play out at the lake this summer. Did you get Skype yet?

Miss you! XOXO

Jess

Dear Ian B.

Dear Ian,

Apart from all the amazing hugs you would give me, I also have this very distinct memory of sitting the K. Beach parking lot with you. It was one of those abnormally warm Alberta nights, and you gave me a note saying that if I ever needed a friend, you'd be there. And because I've never forgotten that, you've been here. Thinking of you!

-Jessica

Dear Kozlik's Mustard

Dear Jeremy,

You seem like the type who may appreciate "Seven Extremely Happy Sneezing Women." I just wanted to write and thank you (is it actually possible to be old-fashioned when you're young?) for the mustard at the Green Living Show. It was greatly appreciated!

Best,

Jessica

Dear Darryl

Here's the thing about the "Green Living Show"--despite its good intentions (not that a show can have good intentions), it's soul-crushing. Recycled air, no natural life (Bullfrog powered or not). . .whoa. I take it all back. A woman with a huge goiter walked by just now. Wait, no, that only made this less boring for 0.5 minutes. Did I mention I'm bored. Why can't I be working at the Hedonistic Living show? Now, that would be entertaining.

Thinking of you!

Dear Kandice

Dear Kandice,

Happy birthday! Okay, I realize it's a little early, but every day should feel like receiving birthday mail. (That, and I know excitement on the non-gin-fueled variety is sometimes few and far between in CL.) I hope your trip to California is amazing. Just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you,

Jess

Dear Saki

Dear Saki,

Judging from your Facebook photos, you've traveled everywhere! I'm glad you got to see Helka in Finland--my boyfriend and I visited her in London last May, which was incredibly lovely. I guess all I need to do now is visit you in Japan! I would love to catch up and hope you're doing well.

Thinking of you,

Jessica

Dear Birthright

Dear Birthright,

Since I turn 26 next month, this year is the last year that I'm eligible to take part in Birthright. It's been a dream of mine for years to take part in Birthright, learn more about Judaism and what it means to be Jewish, and to experience Israel. Only problem? I'm not Jewish. I realize being eligible is inherent in the name "Birthright," but my dreams are being crushed. You do good work.

Thinking of you. (Really, no exceptions?)

Dear Rod

Dear Rod,

Facebook has informed me of two key things:

1) You are getting older shortly. (Well, technically you're getting older as you read this, but I mean you're going to get older in an officiall recognizable sort of way) and:
2) It's "420." (Something I probably would have never noticed, if not for FB.)

These two things made me think of you. That, and I figured a postcard would reach you before we ever manage to coordinate schedules. Happy (early) birthday and (late) 420!

-Jessica

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

Happy Birthday! I hope you liked the flowers that Andrew and I sent. I'm back to working for again, so I'm going to spend all weekend at the "Green Living Show." There's a seat sale on for Westjet, so Jay and I are going to buy our tickets for August shortly. I hope your birthday was nice.

XOXO, Jess

Dear Ross

Dear Ross,

Chloe instructed me to send you a postcard. However, apart from POL101 and a handful of encounters, I know little about what kind of postcard content you prefer. How about this--once, I came home to find my neighbour skinning a baby pig on the balcony, as an art project. True story. That is all.

Thinking of you,

Jessica

Dear Christoffer

Dear Christoffer,

I may be terrible at returning emails, but I'm pro at never letting connections, however brief, slip away or be forgotten. (In fact, I think of you every other time I eat Indian food.) all is well here with me. I'm working for the same org. that I was volunteering in Vanuatu with. The urge to travel, the itch, is upon me, though. Do you still go scuba diving/caving?

Thinking of you,

Jess

Dear Dadeo

Dear Dadeo's,

I think that it's imperative that you know this. In 2006, your male servers made me pledge that I would only date men with beards for a year. The absurd New Year's resolution was conceived in your fine establishment. I followed through. My table also left a "beard tip." Now you know everything. And it's good.

Thinking of you,

Jess

Dear Residents of #303

Dear Residents of 303,

I don't mean to alarm you, but I think your apartment is haunted. At least it was when I lived there. It always felt like there was something in the hallway. Did you know an iguana lived in your kitchen? People fell in love in that apartment. Friendships were made. Tequila was drunk. Thinking of you!