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!

Dear Kristian

Dear Kristian,

It's a beautiful spring day and I'm sitting here listening to Atmosphere and thinking of you. I remember that you once told Richard that you thought my potbelly was "cute" (and he, in turn, told me) and that I kissed weird. This has been rectified. My potbelly, has not, though. However, that fact that some guy thought it was cute has carried my self-esteem for the last 10 years. So--thanks! Are you going to do any shows in TO? I'd love to see you perform.

-Jess

Dear Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

I thought of you this morning while I was up baking bread, which is weird because a) I have no memories of you and bread combined (just Sailor Moon) and b) I don't do "early." Nonetheless, there you were, an early morning thought. I hope you're doing well.

Thinking of you,

Jess

Dear Sasha

Dear Sasha,

Even though I just talked to you today and told you this online, I wanted to let you know in writing that I love and miss you. Putting it on paper and spending money on a stamp makes it more official, I suppose.

Thinking of you,
XOXO Jess

Dear Morgan

Dear Morgan,

One of the very few things Toronto does well is spring. Maybe it just fascinates me because unlike in CL, it's a distinct season all of its own. There are dogs everywhere. I hope that you and your dog are doing well.

Thinking of you,

Jessica

Dear Michelle

Dear Michelle,

I was thinking, the other day, aboutt that one time you and I hung out at the gym. (Particularly weird, because I didn't go to a gym again until 5 years later.) You were at the high school and I was still at NHS--and you seemed like you lived this glamorous life to me, being a GCHS student and all. I would love to see you, if you're ever in TO.

Thinking of you,

Jess

Dear Janel

Dear Janel,

I'm sorry I'm terrible at keeping n touch--I feel like every trip to Ottawa has been a whirlwind of crazy busy. However, I just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you, and if you Facebook pictures are any indication, you've grown into an amazing individual who hasn't lost her lust for life.

Always,

Jess

Dear Naomi

Dear Naomi,

I found about today that I may be about to experience the most convenient layoff ever--my contract is ending on August 11th, which means I should be able to spend a solid two weeks in CL (or Alberta, at least)! So excited. I'm saving my pennies now but having a couple of consecutive weeks off--the first in almost 3 years--will be amazing. Other than the whole getting married bit, do you and Brent have anything planned?

Thinking of you!

XOXO,

Jess

P.S. Do you have your own mailbox yet? Or still waiting for someone to leave Goodsoil?

Dear Justin G.

Dear Justin,

This is a postcard about us, not about him.

Here's something I have a hard time wrapping my mind around--when we were 15, my now-boyfriend was 20 and on vacation with his girlfriend in St. Lucia, so while we were neon bowling and listening to (hed) PE (or was that later?) and you and Jason were trying out for the football team and I still wore braces and played hide-and-go-seek in the dark at Chelsea and Tanya's and theorized about the logistics of oral sex, my now-boyfriend was probably receiving a bj. And even though I'm not longer 15, I'm still obsessed with the continuity of time.

Thinking of you,

Jess

Dear Brandi

Dear Brandi,

In choosing a postcard to send you, I had difficulty choosing one that was child/family appropriate. Then I remembered the following two things:

1) May it's me that's not child appropriate and

2) I'm pretty sure Brandi appreciates this.

It looks like everything is going well for you. I'm still in Toronto, except getting up to much less trouble these days (aren't we all?) Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you!

-Jess