Pen Pal Club News July 15, 2019
Although many of our members at home and abroad are vacationing this month, the mail hasn’t stopped. We are still receiving letters and cards from our friends in faraway places. Those who are away from home may send a post card from an exotic spot they are visiting for the first time or a favorite family destination… and we are responding in kind.
Wae members bid a fond farewell to outgoing Pen Pal Club president, Alison Kalish, on June 28th. Alison had been active in the club since 2014, forming a strong bond with Ayn Lerua, a Russian pen-friend with whom she has shared a five-year postal correspondence.
Alison was the first of our members to sign up for the Postcrossing project and continues to receive many colorful cards from distant lands.
Following Alison’s example, two more of our members have registered with Postcrossing. Tamilah and Jen signed up in June and recently sent out their first post cards.
A Generous Donor!
We read on the internet the distressing news that a venerable local institution, Terry’s Family Pharmacy of nearby Verona, NJ, would soon close its doors. After many decades of dedicated service to the community, owner Les Gwyn-Williams made the difficult decision to move on. Les has been extremely supportive and generous to our pen pal endeavors and presented me with a tall stack of vintage Verona Park post cards when I visited him on 7/13.
Thank you, Les! Terry’s Pharmacy will certainly be missed.
One of our favorite letters
Finally, we wish to acknowledge a charming letter from Alison’s friend Sarah (who calls herself “Little Shoulder Dragon” at the Postcrossing site). Sarah is a young mother of two, living in the town of Walsrode, Germany. When Sarah expressed an interest in American baseball, we were curious. We wondered how that started. Sarah explained it all in her last letter to Alison – it all began with a very old baseball bat her father gave her when she was a child.
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your story.
Members, be sure to attend our next meeting: Friday, July 19, in the WC library at 11 o’clock.