It’s intriguing that used postcards end up in thrift shops. A place where people take their unwanted items that might be of some value to a stranger.

Postcards are especially interesting. Unlike a letter, a postcard lays bare their sentiments for all to see on its journey. Anyone could catch a glimpse of its contents as it travels to its recipient. To me, postcards are odd, curious, lovely, and a different kind of connectedness.

The allure of stranger’s postcards lies in the mystery they carry. I often find multiple postcards from the same family. Which means they were kept together somewhere. Then they were boxed up together, traveled in a vehicle together, and then exchanged into the hands of a stranger together. Reading them is like being a detective, piecing together fragments of other people’s lives.

I collect these items because it is a form of time travel, connecting me to the past through the remnants of someone else’s history, which makes me feel connected to humanity.