freestar

I live in Seattle, between two bridges and next to a canal built to allow big ships to travel from the saltwater of Puget Sound into the freshwater interior lakes and back again. I edit science fiction and fantasy novels for work, and I read science fiction and fantasy novels for fun. I used to love to travel and dance and hike and camp in nature, but I have long-haul Covid and can't do any of those things at the moment. Now I like to bake muffins for my family, friends, and neighbors and go for short walks along the water with my dog.

I would love to receive postcards showing the place where you live or a local artist –or– a postcard that you love for no reason at all, even if it's a bit weird and you don't know if anyone else will like it. I would love to hear anything you have to say. You can also share just one thing that made you happy this week.

A few of my favorite things:

> Favorite movie: The Princess Bride
> Favorite TV show: Firefly
> Favorite music to dance to: Cuban cha cha cha and son montuno
> Recent favorite book: Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
> Forever favorite dog: @Kodachrometheblackandwhitedog on Instagram

A bit of local history:

The city of Seattle is built on the land and waters of the Duwamish Tribe, one of several Coast Salish Indigenous peoples who still live here. The ship canal that I live alongside was dug by the US Army Corps of Engineers a little over 100 years ago, along a valley that used to be home to a winding stream and marshy streambanks where people, birds, and other animals fished. The locks where the canal meets the sea has a fish ladder built in so that salmon also can return from their saltwater home to their freshwater birthplace to spawn.

> You can learn more about the Duwamish people here: https://www.duwamishtribe.org
> You can read more about the history of various Coast Salish tribes here: https://www.coastsalish.org
> You can see photos and a map of the path the salmon take into the inland lakes here: https://www.eopugetsound.org/magazine/ballard-salmon
> You can see lots of images of Coast Salish art featuring salmon by searching online images with phrases like "Coast Salish salmon art"

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P.S. to U.S. Postcrossers -

Please join the campaign to request the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Postcrossing stamp!

Spread the word by adding this info to your profile and then send a postcard (or write a letter) to:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300
Washington, DC 20260-3501