Expressions of Love...: My Spiritual Home

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

My Spiritual Home

I am sorry that of late I have not been spreading the card-love with the infrequency of my posts, but I have a very valid reason: I have been away for a week in England! My mother lives there, so going there (although this sounds very jaded) is nothing really new or special for me, but this time it was different. I brought a friend along, and we went traipsing across the English countryside--including a stop in Oxford. And so it was that I found my spiritual home, or at any rate, my spiritual college. I literally fell in love with the place, and it actually pains me that I don't go to college there. It's so wonderfully historic--J.R.R. Tolkien (I adore Lord of the Rings, this was huge for me) and C.S. Lewis both taught there, Lewis Carroll went to school at Christ Church College--I was drooling as we strolled around the streets, and especially being a history major, I became insanely jealous of everyone who went there. Not to mention that they have the cutest card shops (definitely check out Blackwell's Poster Shop if you go). Heaven, much?

I picked up this postcard. Very touristy, I know, but I still enjoy it--it gives you an idea of how gorgeous the place is. I sent it to a friend in Vermont because I know he would love it too--just the right balance of pretentiousness and history, and still small enough to be sweet and cozy. Also, the students' rooms are absolutely beautiful--some are old and some are new, but they are huge and gorgeous, with big windows and cute little chairs and some even have dining tables!?! Are you jealous yet?

These got from Alice's Shop in Oxford. The real Alice (Alice Liddell) lived in Oxford, she was the daughter of the Dean of Christ Church College! Isn't that so cool? The shop I bought these in is where she used to buy her barley sugar sweets over 140 years ago, but now it's just filled with Alice paraphernalia, which is cool too! ;) I think these are wonderful, and because I am selfish and can't bear to part with them, they now live on my wall with my vast collection of postcards and pictures! I hope this makes you want to go galavant off to Oxford--drop me a line if you do, I will definitely hide in your suitcase!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Sealed with love...

Anyone, anywhere can fire off an email, send a fax or post something on your facebook wall. It takes a grand total of two and a half seconds--some text, the click of a button, and you're done. Instant communication, lost in the abyss of cyberspace--hardly what you would call an expression of love. With the advent of internet, yes, it's tragic, but true--we have almost lost the beautiful permanence of letter writing. Sure, it's slower and it's more tedious than sending an e-card, but it's the effort involved that makes cards, letters, notes in the mail expressions of love; because in taking the time to choose your stationary, write your note, enclose a photo or magazine article, and deliver it to a mail box or post office--you've just proven the depth and beauty of snail mail. You've just told someone, through your actions alone, that you love them.

You love cards. I love cards. We all love cards.

It's a reciprocal business, sending cards, letters, postcards, packages, flying elephants (ok, probably not the flying elephants, but if you do happen to find one, you should drop me a line). And so card-sharing should be a reciprocal business, too! Send me cards, letters, cool stationery, tidbits of mail--anything wonderful and whimsical that goes or comes in the mail. Scan it, add a little blurb telling us what it's all about--why it's special, why it's cute, why you love it, why we should love it--send it (sadly via email: cooper22722@yahoo.ca) and I'll post it. With love, of course.