The First Postcrossing Card: Blackwater Falls, Davis, West Virginia <--- West Virginia, USA

[post_card_stories]

This was the very first card that I have received via Postcrossing; obviously an emotional moment. First, the confirmation that the system works, and can be trusted (I remember trying to request a few cards via Postcrossing in the past, but nothing came back). 

The main sensation was this bizarre sense of touch, a link with somebody from God Knows Where on this planet. The physicality of the piece of paper played a crucial role in it, like the real post stamps selected for the card, or a set of stickers put on it, the handwriting etc etc. Lots of 'learnings & insights' have occurred at once ^_^

 

Many of these 'small insights' also informed my own way of preparing and posting my first postcards. For instance, the stickers that I started to use somewhat extensively; or writing the date (though I've never got this fixation on the temperature and other weather phenomena).  These small things may look too small to be bothered, but in reality they all contribute to the very specific experience of participation created by this community (I've read someone referring to Postcrossing as 'Movement').



 

I later learned that this correspondent (a woman) had lost her sight (one eye, at least), quite tragically. I wrote a simple registration message via Postcrossing, and then later also sent her a Thank You card, with the Dutch Royal family - see it below:



I forgot to take any decent picture of this card, though, and this is all that I have.