The Postcards for Mom Pranksters

My mom's "ended this way" because she stopped getting mail. It's hard to update when there's one postcard a week, or every two weeks. When she did get mail, or made mention of it, I would update.
This weekend we had a family cookout. Mom brought out her box 'o stuff. My aunt had taken one a few months back, looked in her phone book and found one of the people who'd written mom. Aunt Cyndi even drove by this womans house and gave my mom her last name and phone number. My sister in law asked for Dr. Tim's info and looked him up online. My family started talking about the letters, and had different ideas how it all started. Dad and I(the only ones who actually knew about the whole thing, other than Tom) just kept saying it was harmless because everyone was being nice(except the jackass who signed mom up for the Disney magazine, that was just wrong). Aunt Cyndi said "The weird thing is, no one person would know all this about you! I mean, *I* don't even know that much about you"(which isn't hard, they're not close). But my brother Jay agreed with Cyndi, saying it must be a group of people giving the information up. It's still great knowing she has no idea how this all came about.
I'm trying to figure out a way to get her to write to the new "victim"...maybe some of you could send postcards saying something like "Let's pass on the torch to Dana's Dad." and give the address and some info? Then it might seem like she was part of a grander scheme and it's someone elses turn now?

Junior Achievement(JA):

Dad has been a volunteer for JA for over 40 years. He has sat on the board of the local JA for years. I believe he is currently just your "plain ol'" volunteer but he's very active in it.

You might want to put something in about the local JA program. Dad, being a very economics motivated individual, usually works in the high schools with teachers in the econ classes. He loves working with the kids.

Anyway, thought that would be a fun add in to your discussions.
- Dana

A warm welcome to all of our new participants from CraigsList - make sure to sign up for the newsletter and don't forget to drop a postcard in the mail to Jerry. You may also want to check out the Gallery of past mailings...

**ring ring**

It was 10pm and I was snuggled up in bed when the phone rang...

MOM: Did I wake you?
Me: Naw, what's up. (this is a lie... I was sleeping!)
MOM: Nothing, I'm bored. Your dad is playing bridge.
Me: Oh, he should be home soon.
MOM: Yeah, but he'll just look thru the mail and go to bed.
Me: Typical night, I suppose.
MOM: Remind me to show G the postcards he got recently. (My son collects postcards)
Me: Okay.
MOM: I must be getting old because the one that came today, I don't even remember this person.

(BANG!) The first "gotcha" hit!

I can't wait to get home and see Dad's reactions!
- Dana

St. Mary's Of The Woods is suddenly allowing "men" into their distance education program. (The horror! the horror! - inserted sarcasm) Anyway, this is certainly a topic of conversation around my parents home right now.

- Dana

By the way...

Our 'mark' is aware that Dana asked some friends of hers to mail her Dad, but he is unaware of this website/project. Don't mention Dana as related to the mail. You could mention her in passing, as we have done before, but not directly as the reason for your letter/postcard.

July 5th....

Hopefully, the mail will start getting to Dad soon. With the holiday week-end, there hasn't been any real mail delivered. It will take a few days until Dad mentions it to me. I might have to take my mother into my confidence to get a feel of what volumes of mail Dad is getting. He isn't the most vocal at first about things....

I am planning a trip (with digital camara in hand) to see Dad this coming week-end... I'll let ya know what I find when I get there.

- Dana

Happy Indepedence Day to the Americans reading this!

Happy July 4, 2005 to the rest of the world!!

Dad is spending the day at home today. He's got his flag hanging proudly. Daddy was "invited" to join the US Army by his friends and family back in the 1960s. This was immediately after he finished college. He's always said he would have liked to know which family and friends invited him.... (giggle giggle)

Dad served in the army for four years. He served in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Fort Riley, Kansas. My mother, Paula, married him while he was at Fort Benning and later followed him to Fort Riley.

Anyway, for Dad, respect of the flag was just another sign of how he respects his country. Doesn't always agree with it... But he respects it.

Hope you enjoy your day!
- Dana

So, I just got home from Mom and Dad's house. It was a great visit. I live about two hours away from Dad and this was the first time I'd been able to get down to look for some fun reminders of what is going on there in ol' nowhere midwest.

Dad looks great. He's pretty much lost all his hair and because of it, he recently had his hair "buzzed". I laugh because while he did have his hair cut, there was very little there to actually cut. He looks so great that it is nice to be able to make fun of something simple like his hair.... we must find humor in everything.

Dad is busy talking about painting the house. Mom and he are considering blues and yellows on the walls. The other conversation they are having over and over and over again is if they should replace the carpet with wood floors. I think they are very close to actually picking wood floors. I personally don't care... just make a decision already. ;^)

I can't wait to get pictures and stories of what he gets in the mail. Dad is so going to love this adventure...

- Dana

I'm at Dad's today... here are some fun things to talk about in his postcards:

1. The blackbirds are busy emptying his birdfeeder. He's having to chase them away so the smaller birds will eat from his feeders.

2. He recently saw some old cars that are racing from Washington DC to Washington state. He has tons of pictures of these cars.

and finally,

3. He has his boat in the water and has been taking his grandchildren around the lake.

I will post more soon. I'll be back next week to take pictures of things he's received! (giggle! giggle!)

- Dana