Postcard the eighty-first: Floating Islands, tee-hee

I've been to a couple of islands in my life.

But I've never been to, um, floating islands. Heh.

Another Stranger writes:

"Hello, Stranger! [Well, hi there.]
I took this lovely picture with the intention that one day your eyes would see it. I hope you enjoy it."

Well, thanks, Stranger! I'm certainly lucky that my eyes got to see your floating islands. (By the way, folks, whenever you take vacations from reality, you might want to bring along some postcard stamps. Stamping your card makes it much more likely that your postcards will reach me here. Thanks!)

Postcard the eightieth: When Octopi Attack

There are lots of things to worry about in this world.

I'm going to guess fighting cephalopod attacks wasn't high on your list of worries, BUT IT MIGHT BE SOON!

Ethan writes a cautionary tale of woe:
"Pictured you'll find the city of Denver submurged [sic] below the water. The plane which is attempting to leave the city has been attacked by an octopus. Unfortunately, the passengers probably won't make it. Unfortunately, this is the life we've brought upon ourselves by ignoring global warming."

Come on, Earth, this is why we can't have nice things! Climate change is nothing to sneeze at, especially if you now live in the Mile Deep City.

Thanks for the warning from the not-so-distant future, Ethan!

Postcard the seventy-ninth: Floating food

I don't know if you have food trucks where you live, but we've had a lot of them around here during the pandemic.

They're a nice break from cooking your own food, and a reminder of what normal life was like (and, hopefully, will be like again).

This card arrived before the pandemic, but it's also a reminder of happy times. Naomi writes:

"This place was inspired by the bustling streets of Hong Kong & the floating markets of Bangkok."

Wouldn't it be lovely to visit the Floating Food Lunar Market? I'd go in a flash! Thanks, Naomi.

Postcard the seventy-eighth: Into the Gulf

Do you ever feel out of your depth? (I do, often.)

I suppose so does our friend Rattul. (Nngh, I hope I'm spelling that right... the final vowel before the L is hard to suss out. Could be an I, could be an E, could be a U. I'm going with U.)

In any case, our friend -- who's going with it -- writes:

"Just out here diving into the Gulf of Mexico. Trying to reflection on myself and life itself. I know it's pretty deep, but I'll always stay on top."

Enjoy your deep dive, buddy. I hope your ponderous reflections don't give your brain the bends!

Postcard the seventy-seventh: Morro Volcano

It seems so many people get in the habit of vacationing in the same old place year after year.

Until suddenly, and almost out of nowhere, a brand new place appears!

Nick, who got to experience this rare wonder of nature, writes:

"I'm out here in beautiful Morro Bay. Unfortunately the long time volcanic plug has erupted. It's a little hot here now, but it keeps things interesting. Keep it cool!"

Thanks, Nick! Enjoy visiting the very newest hot spot on the planet. Some day you'll be able to tell people that you knew about Morro Volcano before it was cool. Literally.

Postcard the seventy-sixth: Home

There's no place like home, is there? Even during a pandemic when we're all probably spending way too much time there.

Home can mean a lot of things, but I think some aspects of every home hold true. Home is where you feel secure, where you're comfortable being yourself. It's where you keep your stuff. And as Robert Frost put it, home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.

KR (who seems to feel much the same way about home) writes:

"I'm enjoying my time at my favorite place in the whole world --
...... HOME ......
or rather, a home made of all my homes (& best friend's home, & my hotel in Paris, and my mom's childhood home & my dad's childhood home)... What a place to be!"

Thank you for the reminder that home, wherever and whatever it may be, is a wonderful place, KR. Sincerely hoping you enjoy your time at home on this Independence Day.

Postcard the seventy-fifth: A fishing trip with Grandpa

If you could do anything right now, what would you do?

If you answered, "Go on a fishing trip with loved ones, of course!" you're going to like this one.

The lovely and talented Betty writes:

"I went fishing with my grandpa last month and I really wished you were there with us too! It was so much fun and we got to each mushrooms and fish, all together! :D"

It's hard to say what's more impressive, the fish or the mushrooms. (Point to ponder: if you're not casting from a gigantic fly agaric, can you really call it "fly fishing?") Either way, I'm glad you had a great time with your grandpa, Betty. Call ahead to let me know when you go again; I'm not the finest fisherwoman in the world, but whoever could resist some big ol' mushrooms? (Not this hobbit, that's for sure.)

Postcard the seventy-fourth: Splashdown!

I've had quite a bit of free time lately, what with there being a pandemic on and all, so I've taken to doing the unthinkable: cleaning off my computer desk. While engaged in the valiant struggle of freeing my desk from the kajillions of papers and other flotsam that have gradually accumulated thereto, I came across a WHOLE STACK of Wish I Were Here postcards mailed to me near the end of 2017. *hangs head* I am a poor custodian of this site indeed.

Well, let's attempt to fix that, shall we?

Once again this postcard wends its way to us from our dear friend Kim, who writes:

"Greetings from Cal Poly!
It is again time for the (un)realistic places project in my Art 182 class. Only 14 students this year -- but they're good ones!

Quote from Jason on seeing this postcard, 'That scenic CALIFORNIA BAY is just the the [sic] thing to escape the manical pursuit of evil purple clouds. They'll never suspect that I'd hide in a bay wearing blue jeans! Even yellow clouds know I have better fashion sense than that!'"

It has literally taken nearly three years, Kim (and Jason of the fantastic fashion sense), but I hope you and your talented students will be pleased to see their work, however belated, featured here in the next few days. Thank you so much for sending your stories from theoretical worlds! They are wondrous, not to mention a great break from the pandemic blues.

Postcard the seventy-third: Nanchern

I do likes me some exotic postcards.

Ooh, and this one's a beaut!

It comes to us from extraterrestrial traveler Charley, who writes:

"Dear Soozcat,
What a wonderful trip we had! First visitors to a new planet beyond Mars, Nanchern! In a matter of minutes, we walked from sunlight into darkness and watched a volcano erupting! Next time, you'll have to come with us!"

That sounds fantastic, Charley. I'm all in favor of more planets in our solar system. (You heard about what they did to Pluto? That's messed up, right?) Thanks for writing!

Postcard the seventy-second: Seven bears in Tibet

Wait, I'm not sure that title is quite right.

No matter! For here we have a fine postcard!

It comes to us from Bob, who writes:

"Dear Dan,
I'm surprised how beautiful Tibet is. I like it so well that I rented this cabin for a month. The stars at night are beautiful.
Hope you can come over for a visit. You will love the wildlife.
Your bro"

Gee, I hope Dan got this message. (Do you think we should try fixing him up with Bonnie? They both seem to have a fondness for exotic wildlife. NO no bad Soozcat, no matchmaking!) Thanks, Bob!