Thursday, October 27, 2011

Old News


I stumbled across this postcard which was in one of a pile of boxes I am slowly plowing through and sorting. I am reluctant to throw it out. It bears such sadness. It's from Leeds and sent to me on April 15th, 1984.

I find the picture itself rather odd. It looks like an artist's rendition of a municipal building. But the people sitting in front of the wall belie that impression.




The message says:

Dear -------Thank you for all your thoughtful help. I was too late. Buried Dad last week. Will see you in June. Love Pat.


Pat is consigned to the mists of time but the poignancy of her message lingers on.

6 comments:

  1. Amazing how an old Postcard or photo can take you right back to a time or place from the past.

    I find handwriting really stops me in my tracks. I wonder what will trigger memories for future generations? Somehow, I doubt emails will have the same pull.

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  2. Hello,
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  3. Handwriting affects me too, the way Grannymar says. It has a physicality missing from emails, an immediacy with the writer that uniform text can't get near. So a postcard can become a powerful personal artefact.

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  4. I have a postcard that says "doing chemo again, rats!!
    From a friend I lost when he was 24

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  5. Not many words needed to explain this.

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  6. Poignant!

    I remember the building depicted well - lived in Leeds 1970 to 1999.

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