You've Got Mail!

Warm fuzzies at the camp bulletin board

We have a board here and it has been part of camp for years: the Warm Fuzzy Board. This might look like just another cork board with push pins in it, but oh no no. It is *so* much more. This is where notes between campers are passed back and forth. It is where the most vital of breaking news at camp takes place. It is where hearts flutter, dreams are dreamed, and love is shared.

It’s a big deal when you see you have a warm fuzzy on the board. Fellow campers will come and chase you down to make certain you’ve seen it. People will wait sheepishly around the corner from it awaiting responses to previously sent fuzzies. It harkens back to a pre-text messaging age. Paper, pen/crayon, and a lot of heart.

I recently discovered one camper singing an original song about the warm fuzzy board. (I’m including precious audio of it here. Perhaps some of you can help me discern the lyrics?)

There’s simply nothing quite like getting a real-life, lovingly crafted handwritten letter. Maurice Sendak often told a wonderful story about a mother who said her child was so thrilled to get a letter from him that he ate it. Sendak described it as one of the greatest compliments he’s ever received.

I get it.

Earlier this year, I set up a P.O. box for people to send in letters, drawings, ideas, and whatever else they wanted to The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination. In addition to receiving mail via the fuzzy board at camp, a highlight of my summer has been checking this post office box. Entire classrooms have sent in packages. Children and adults have written thank you notes. The letters have been overwhelmingly creative and thoughtful from readers all over the place.

The book doesn’t reveal what the outside of the FBI Headquarters looks like, so many readers enjoy sending me art sharing what they think it might be:

Recently a very sweet trend has started happening. There’s a line in the book about how Brenda the Dragon never receives mail. Kids have decided they’re not okay with that and want to make sure she gets something from them. This makes me happier than I’ll ever have words for.

I’ve spent more time offline than online in recent weeks. It’s again reminded me just how wonderful simple forms of connection and care can be. Yes, it’s slower sending things via snail mail. Communicating via a cork bulletin board might not sound like the best way to send someone a message, but I’m struggling at the moment to think of anything better. Sure, it requires patience and pushpins. Sure, an email or text message might arrive quicker. But, you can’t hold those in your hand. Also, as Maurice Sendak’s young letter reader might remind us— you can’t eat them.

So, here’s to letters. To love notes. To warm fuzzies. To words put alongside other words in an effort that somebody might know just how much they matter.

May we receive them. May we send them.

What kind of mail might you send this week?

Three things:

• Shop! We have cards and other gifts you can purchase and send to people you love. Browse here!

• Substack Bestseller! The Enthusiast has been named a Substack Bestseller thanks to your incredible support. I’m in awe of how this community continues to grow. THANK YOU!

• Speaking! Plywood People’s event for social changemakers is happening August 24 and I’m speaking at it! Tickets are available now!

P.S. Here’s the address if you want it: