I know. I know. Isn’t it a little early for talk of Valentine’s Day? Well…not if you’re thinking what I’m thinking. See, every year I try to find a different United States Post Office to send my special greetings to for request of their own personalized post mark for the holiday of LoVe. It’s really kind of fun anticipating the thrill of recognition from the recipients that the card went through a special place designated to stamp their approval of love on the cover of the envelope.
You can google to find a list of participating post offices. Some of the regulars are Loveland Colorado, Romeo Michigan, Loving, Mexico, and Bliss, New York. My personal favorite is Valentine, Texas for the way they go about choosing their stamp. See, they host an annual contest with school kids (7th-12th grades) to see who can come up with the best design. Once the winner is chosen, they make an official Valentine’s Day Post Mark Stamp and utilize it for sending out all those special LoVe requests. Isn’t that great?
Just to make it easy for you, here are a few handy links of LoVe lists…
http://www.squidoo.com/romantic-postmark-valentines-day
http://www.celebratelove.com/valpostmark.htm
http://www.listmyfive.com/d680d127/The-Top-Five-Valentines-Day-Postmarks
I’ve been doing this for years and have sent cards through most all of the ones with special stamps. I’ve sent through Valentine, Texas many times for their annually updated services. But I truly think there needs to be more out there. I mean, let’s face it. LoVe is BIG business, right? Everyone loves LoVe!
So, after consulting http://info.alabama.gov/directory_city_1.aspx , I have determined that Alabama needs to join the ranks of LoVe postmarks and here’s the list I’ve come up with for possibilities. Mind you, this list is not complete…the possibilities are many! And what more fun can be had than offering a contest to the community for a little LoVe action! : D
Gurley, AL for the feminine LoVe expression.
Mentone, AL for some kind of manly LoVe….or man candy! Yum!
Shakespeare, AL…for the poetic LoVe
Dixie, AL… since we ARE the HEART of Dixie!
Hatcheehubbee, AL because…..it’s FUN! They could host a man auction, too!
Sims Chapel, AL or White's Chapel, AL for the wedding bound LoVe!
Hopewell, AL…for the anticipation of LoVe
Ohatchee, AL for the expecting LoVe.
Oneonta, AL or Lenox, AL…again for the wedding bound LoVe.
Excel, AL for the forward thinking LoVeR!
Taledega, AL… for the fast and reckless LoVe!
Wedowee, AL ….for the together LoVe
And my personal favorite is…Choccolocca, AL…for the romantic LoVe we all share!
So what do you think? Will you be sending special LoVe this year? What are your favorite postmarks in the US or internationally? Does Alabama need a LoVe postmark? Which Alabama location would get your vote?
It's not too early. It's no Halloween, bu I enjoy Valentine's Day. I don't need a lot of hoopla from The Guy but I love to find Victorian looking die cut cards. (Punch Studios is the my current favorite.)
ReplyDeleteIn 2009, The Guy gave me the SEC Championship game and the National Championship game on DVD. Could anybody have a better husband? It won't happen this year. Of course, I don't want the SEC game and the NC game won't be released until later in February. He's already looked into it.
My mother always got me something for Valentine's Day, so I guess that's why I like it. I had chicken pox on the day of the party when I was in the first grade. I remember that my daddy brought home a Whitman's sampler for my mother, my sister, and me to share. I got to pick first because I was sick.
I am intrigued by the postmark idea. How do you make that happen? Send a package to the post office and they open it and mail your cards?
Notice I said I was intrigued. I won't do it. I know myself. I'll barely get them out in time.
This is so cool! Thanks for posting about this, Lesia. I never knew this existed.
ReplyDeleteJean, you send an addressed/stamped postcard in an envelope to the specific town. They take them out and stamp them with their Valentine/town stamp and send them back to you. Pretty cool, isn't it?
My favorite town for LoVe day?
Kissimmee, FL
Darlington, AL
Goodman, AL
Sweetwater, AL
Hey, here's a couple I didn't know about. For an historical writer, you can't beat:
Duke, AL or Butler, AL ;)
Just don't send the card to: Hurtsboro, AL
Oooh! I could get beautifully cut Victorian Valentines to send through Butler, AL! I love it! Now, if I could just get their Post Master to comply with a LoVe stamp! :D
ReplyDeleteAnd Jean, I understand the holiday thing...I had chicken pox on my 4th Christmas. I was isolated with my oldest sister in the garage apartment behind our house. It was the greatest time of my life. And boy were we spoiled rotten that year!
Thanks for the how-to instructions, Kathy. That's exactly how to do it.
I like the idea of Choccolocca. And Jean and Lesia, I had measles on Valentine's Day in 2nd grade.
ReplyDeleteActually, I try to avoid Valentine's Day now. It's just a sad reminder of days gone by. :-(
Marilyn
Marilyn, perhaps there are days full of new and happy memories, brimming with lots of Choccolocca ahead <3
DeleteGreat idea Lesia! You come up with the best ideas. I will have to give it a try. I know I am in the vast minority but I don't really care for chocolate and hubby knows it. BUT, he does know that I like "sparklies" for Valentine's Day. Is there a town in the U.S. named Diamond or Ruby? Oh, how about Ruby Falls? Do they have a post office? ~g~
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think, Cheryl! Sparkles.....I'm going to look at this a little differently now. ; ) I'll get back to you on the glitter-towns......research must be done! <3
ReplyDelete