Shake Things Up! Send Some Snail Mail!

 

A recent perusal of my postage stamp collection reminded me I had a few of those fabulous Soda Fountain Forever stamps issued in 2016. These fun stamps are perfect for sending summer mail! And furthermore, did you know June 20th is National Vanilla Milkshake Day? It also happens to be the official first day of summer this year! 😎 Sounds like an excellent reason to send some mail! 

Way back in 2016 when the USPS held the dedication ceremony for the Soda Fountain Forever stamps, postal employee Nancy Rettinhouse stated, “It is our hope at the United States Postal Service that the stamps we are issuing today will spur nostalgia in everyone mailing or receiving postcards, letters and packages.”

It definitely spurred nostalgia in me. 🥰 My personal family history is replete with soda fountain stories. Mr. Murphy and I have, of course, shared many a romantic chocolate soda, root beer float and green river at some of our favorite soda fountains through the years… (one shake, two straws! 😘)…  but my personal favorite is a love story. A romantic tale about a tall, quiet milkman and the beautiful, young soda fountain girl he saw on his daily delivery of milk and ice cream. Yep, that’s how my grandparents met. My grandfather was a milkman and my grandmother worked at the soda fountain!

  

(My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. And they're like, it's better than yours 🎶 - 😝 Wait, no…that’s my Gran! 😜) 

Anyway, they met at the soda fountain and the rest, as they say is history! Do I owe my very existence, in part to the sublime deliciousness that is the milkshake? 🤔 I think perhaps, I do! 

Now that is an excellent reason to celebrate the sweet treats of the soda fountain and send some snailmail on Vanilla Milkshake Day! 

Go postal people! In a good way!

XOXO,

Mrs. Murphy

 

Snailmail: An Oasis In The Desert

“Without friends the world is but a wilderness.” Francis Bacon

One of the things I love best about snailmail as a hobby is how easy it is to get back into it after long breaks. (Like the one you may have noticed on the Mrs. Murphy Mailbox Blog 😬) Thankfully there is no need to worry about letters or postcards going past the expiration date or envelopes and stamps falling out of style. While it is true postal rates change. 😑 One may still use vintage postage as long as the total value of the stamps add up to the current postal rates. #Winning! And pen pals, no matter how long it’s been, always seem to be happy to receive some good mail in their mailbox. (I know I am 🥳📬)

During the Mrs. Murphy Mailbox Blog hiatus, Mr. Murphy and I have been starting a new job, selling an old house, finding a new one, moving to a new town closer to the Mini Murphys and trying to settle into our new community. Whew 😅 It was a lot!! 

Much change was happening and through it all I found comfort in sending and receiving letters. As any postal enthusiast can tell you, many are the times when your letters go unanswered. But that’s not really the point of why I send mail. Sending snail mail is personal and thoughtful. It means more than a quick text or email because it’s unique and heartfelt and it takes time to write down one’s thoughts, seal them in an envelope, stamp it and take it to a mailbox. 

We’re making keepsakes!! 🥰 Unlike digital messages, physical letters can be saved, re-read, and treasured for years. I started my lifelong interest in all things postal in my childhood when I would keep cards and letters in a special box under my bed. 😊

 

We have to slow down. 🐌 Writing a letter encourages us to pause, reflect and think deeply about what we want to say - something that is often lost in the fast-paced world of digital communication. I often respond with one word or an emoji to a text from Mr. Murphy in our daily communication. What a joy it is to read a lovely, long letter in which my pen friend has poured out their heart!! I hope they feel that way about my mail. ☺️ 

Snailmail is always magic!! Receiving some actual “good mail” in one’s mailbox is a delightful surprise! It’s guaranteed to brighten anyone’s day in a way that digital messages rarely do. 🥳

Snailmail builds stronger connections. 🔗 ❤️ Sending actual mail helps us stay connected with people who may be far away or often not online, like older people and children. Since my move I’ve sent snailmail to people from my old community and today I sent a letter to a friend I have made in my new community!! Nothing like a little mailbox magic to say thanks for inviting the Murphys into your life!! 

Near or far, old friend or new sending snailmail is always magic!

Go Postal, People! (In a good way🥰) 

XOXO

Mrs. Murphy