I started out organizing a closet. And now I am surrounded by nostalgic memories of ages 18 to 23 when I lived in a very vibrant city of the Pacific Northwest, USA.
Or (as I called it then) Cascadia.
These are jumbled up photos, from a time when I still used film and printed picture for myself and to share with my many different pen pals all over the country.
It is so sweet to read letters to and from friends from who wrote to me on summer break, during their adventures, sometimes even from just across town. During those years cell phones and instantaneous messaging was taking over. Despite this we all felt a need to share our feelings and art with good old pen and paper.
I even found a couple of love letters!
I re-read them all now with a totally different perspective. Seeing these images helps me re-live moments, even those not caught on camera. Those memories of friends and boyfriends are stored deep in my soul and are brought to the surface by such momentos. I will admit that I shed a tear or two reading letters from people I no longer have contact with. That is life, isn't it?
On the other hand the dozens of letters from folks who I still consider friends inspired me to write again and re-establish our penpalship.