Carol (aka carolreader) hails from Ohio, a northern US state. She’s been a postcrosser for over 8 years, juggling a stressful job, family life and distance running, along with sending postcards! :)
Here is what she had to say:
- How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?
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My daughter always finds new and interesting things. She told me that she’d joined Postcrossing and received a postcard from a teacher in Japan. I thought that was so cool!
When I first joined, I asked for only one address. I had no postcards, nor did I know where to buy any. So I took my lunch hour at work and walked around downtown Cleveland, Ohio, looking for a postcard to send. I found a nice one! Since then, I’ve learned where to find postcards, and try to have a variety of cards on hand to send.
- Do you have any other interesting hobbies?
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I am addicted to distance running, and I run between one and twenty amateur races every year. This was actually an obsession a few years ago – I spent two years trying to qualify to run the Boston Marathon — to do this, you have to run another marathon in a certain time, depending upon your age. I achieved my goal in 2009, and ran Boston in 2009 at the age of 58. I consider this one of the great achievements of my life. I started running in my 40’s, and I’d never been athletic. I worked for this, and got lucky.
But the older I get, the harder it gets to run. I keep at it because it makes me feel good, and good about myself. But I’m too old for marathons now!
- Show us your mailbox, your mailman/mailwoman, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!
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This is the letter box at work where I mail many of my cards:
My postcards albums for received cards:
And boxes of cards on hand to send out:
- What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?
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Picking out the right card to send, absolutely. I love trying to find different kinds of cards, so that I have the right card to fit even an odd request or interest.
- Show and tell us about your favorite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.
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I love quirky cards – and I love animals. Here are some quirky animal cards that I like a lot:
The one below from Russia translates to “Smile, it irritates people.” I thought it was funny, and loved the great message on the other side.
But another card sticks in my mind – it wasn’t just a card, it was a card and a letter and two photos. A group of girl guides from Poland sent me group pictures, and told me about themselves. I love all the cards I receive, but every so often one arrives that warms my heart –and often from an unexpected place!
- Have you met any other members in real life?
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A few years ago, I went to a small meet up in Minneapolis with forum members. It was great fun. I would love to see a meet up in northern Ohio. In a year or two, when I retire from my job, I hope to organize one. In the meantime…perhaps someone else will volunteer?
- Is there anything that you are passionate about?
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I love hearing from people all over the world, regardless of the politics between our countries. I don’t know if this type of person-to-person communication would have been possible 40 years ago. I can “talk” to people in other nations now that I would never have dreamed of back in those days. I need to hope and believe that this doesn’t stop!
30 comments so far
Hi Carol...good for you in your wonderful zest for life. Some say as we get older we cant do this or that...people like you prove them wrong. Keep up with that zest.I am 54 and feel like I have just come alive...
Sue
Hi Carol! Thanks for the photos (loved the cards too! :D ) and the nice interview. Just keep running... after postcards. :)
Dearest Carol, so nice to see you here in the interview! You are one of my "oldest" friends on the forum, always great to see you around :). Big hugs! :)
Nice interview and very nice cards, love some cuirqyness too!! Keep up the running !!! Greetings from the netherlands
I love this interview postcrossing, you should do more of them. Carol goodonya G'day from Australia for leading such an active life. My oh my you have a lot of cards and so well organised
An interesting interview....
Please do more of these spotlights, they are so wonderful :)
I am sure someone will organize a meeting in Ohio in near future ;)
Hi Carol! I do understand your feelings! ;)
Hello Carol, thank you for your wonderful interview. It is very nice to see you here again.
Hello Carol, Postcrossing greetings from Youngstown!
Hello from Belgium ! Loved reading this !
Thanks for the interview. Always interesting to read about another postcrosser. I would love to attend a "meet up" sometime. How do we find out about them?
Hello to Carol. I've seen your name so often on the various Postcrossing links...especially the scroll when it tells me you've sent or received a card. It's great to become better acquainted with you. Perhaps we'll have an exchange one day, too. Love the Postcrossing interviews.
Betsy in Texas
Hi Carol,
Lovely story, enjoy Running
George & Kathleen
Merewether beach
Australia
Really enjoyed your story Carol. Thanks for making time to postcross!
Nice to meet you, Carol!
It's always very interesting and fun to read these spotlight interviews, so thank you so much for sharing. I love the quirky cards! (^_^)
I wish you a wonderful and joyful Postcrossing time.
Carol! So nice to see you featured! I have recently started considering organizing my cards in a different way than simply the order received, so I'd be curious to know how you separate yours out into those binders
Thank you, Carol and the team, for another interesting interview! Good luck!
Dear Carol,
You have inspired me. Again whenever I read a story of a post-crosser I find something new and amazing. I took organizing and running from your story. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
Riaz
INDIA
Where did you find or get those neat postcard organizing binder?
Hey Carol,
You've done it well. Love to receive a card from you...
Nice to meet you here, Carol - greetings from Germany! I love These interviews and the photos!
you are a real "stick-with-it" person. cheers.
I was lucky to receive a great postcard with Chris Rock by Annie Leibovitz from Carol :-) I'm always touched by postcrossers who try to FEEL what a person would be happy to receive. It's more than choosing a postcard with a certain image, it's sharing a piece of oneself. That's what makes postcrossing an emotional (even intuitive) exchange. Thank you, Carol!
Hi Carol, I love your interview. A friend told me about Postcrossing. I've been Postcrossing a little over a year and got daughter doing it too. We feel like we are fulfilling mini wishes around the world with our variety of cards and stickers.
Hi Carol! Great interview. I loved seeing your collection of boxes of cards, and your fun favorites. Peace, love, and snail mail!
You're never too old to run! I am inspired by those "experienced" runners who perform better than me! Your postcard albums / binders are a great idea! And I really liked the B/W funny animal cards of the pig and cat :) Like Paula wrote above: keep running … after postcards!
Great interview - I love your quirky cards too.
Hi dear Carol, it's so nice to see you here in blog spotlight! Your quirky cards are fun, "the pig ride" is the Best - brings me some childhood memories. :-D
Go on and keep running, and hope to meet you in some Forum group when I have time to send cards again!
So great to see you here! What a wonderful Postcrosser you are, and can't wait to exchange cards with you again soon! :)
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