A Box of Postcards

 MJ Malleck // Two postcards today, because they were taped together. Never mailed, just saved. They are from Washington, D.C. One shows the White House and one the State Capital building.  The serendipity always amazes me. This week even in Canada our eyes are on Washington. Roe vs. Wade, a precedent guaranteeing a woman’s right to abortion, was overturned by the US Supreme Court. And we are watching the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capital building!  The United States Capital sits in spacious grounds on the crest of a hill, dominating the entire city of Washington, D.C. It was designed by Dr. William Thornton who was the winner in a prize competition. Thornton, who had been born in the British West Indies in 1759 became an American citizen in 1787. His design for the U.S. Capital was chosen by President George Washington in 1793 and he received $500 and a building lot in the city. He moved to Washington in 1794 and was appointed a city commissi

 by MJ Malleck /// Today’s postcard was sent from London, England to Owen Sound September 15, 1977, almost 45 years ago. It reads: Many thanks for driving us down to Malton. We got off in time in a 747 and arrived on time, Heathrow. London is bright and warm to-day. We are in Hammersmith but there is a free bus into the Bristol so hope to get into town tomorrow. Love Phil & Charlotte. Two stamps, purple 5p with Queen Elizabeth’s profile, familiar to Canadians from our coinage and stamps. Although, in the 70s, our coins show Queen Elizabeth facing left and wearing a small tiara. The full crown on these British stamps didn’t appear on our coins until 1990. And I find that this crown is actually called a diadem. It is a full circle and what Elizabeth wears for royal portraits. The George IV State Diadem or the Diamond Diadem, made for his coronation. With roses, thistles, and shamrocks as symbols of England, Scotland, and Ireland it was designed in 1820 and has 1,333 diamonds. M

MJ Malleck //  It's a stinking hot day for so early in the summer, and I'm in the middle of a writers' challenge called #1000wordsofsummer. To write 1000 words a day, but today I am stuck and then I remembered: The box of Postcards. Still in my closet, a better prompt a writer couldn't ask for.  I reached in and pulled, believe it or not on this day of 31 degree Celsius and a heat warning, this gorgeous card from Arizona. Clear, blue sky and palm trees. Taken in the 60s, a photograph, from a balcony it looks like (no drones for civilians then). No writing on the back. I'm struck by how much concrete pad is poured around the pool. There are shuffleboard courts. A few people sunning (I'm thinking of sunburns and no sunscreen) and the people look older. All the women in one piece, modest suits. Some of the men bald or grey haired. I can see two children in the shallow end, but one is sitting quietly on the edge. The back of the card tells me it is Del Webb