Bill Kirby: Your summer of travel will play out in the cards
"It was the journey that mattered."
– Chad Oldfather
This is the time of the year when we kick off the Vacation Postcard Contest.
Between now and Labor Day, I will be counting cards, if you choose to send them.
E-mail the images if you don't.
The goal is to get a card or picture from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. I admit this is not as easy as it used to be. Not only is the gas for driving on vacations very, very expensive, but so is postage.
Then there are the postcards themselves. They are hard to find.
I'll ask you to embrace the challenge and modern technology. Take a picture with your phone. Then just e-mail it to me at bkirby@augustachronicle.com.
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We'll see which state gets the most local visitors. We'll see which state has the funniest postcards. We'll see what animal different states like to celebrate. (HINT: Kentucky likes horses.)
Tell you what. If you put your return address on your card, I'll send you one when I go on vacation.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW? I just checked the newsroom mailbox and found a great ballpark postcard from Kansas City sent by William and Anita McKie. They write: "Saw the White Sox shutout the Royals even though Kansas City had more men on base. Nice stadium with waterfalls in outfield area. Also wasn't crowded like St. Louis for a Tuesday p.m. game."
Lorinda and Joe Fournier, of Evans, were in Tampa visiting Aurora, Alan and Maria for a late Thanksgiving and Mother's Day celebration."
Rosemary Suchko and John Mohr, of Martinez, sent a card from Georgia's coastal Cumberland Island and share a history lesson.
"Exploring our southern coast," they write. "Took historical tour and learned about 'movers and shakers' (A/K/A old money) who established the Jekyll Island Club. Then on to Cumberland Island to learn about the era when the Carnegie family owned the island. Enjoyed seeing the wild horses. Stayed at a delightful B&B (Goodbread House) in St. Mary's – second oldest city after St. Augustine."
Sandra Schumann, of Hephzibah, reports "Tommy and I are on Carnival Horizon, currently in Aruba. Docked next to the Free Winds ship owned by Scientology! On to Bonaire and Curacao. Next ABC Islands."
(See, that wasn't so hard. Only 48 to go.)
TODAY'S JOKE: It was the end of a hectic day and a mother was trying to get her 4-year-old off to bed after dinner. Her patience was gone and suddenly she shouted, "OK! You're putting on you PJs, brushing your teeth, we're reading one story, then … lights out!"
The little girl appeared startled. Then she reached up and put her arms around her mother's neck.
"We learned in Sunday school about little boys and girls who don't have mommies and daddies," she said gently.
The harried mom softened and hugged her child close, only to hear her whisper, "Maybe you could go be their mom."
Bill Kirby has reported, photographed and commented on life in Augusta and Georgia for 45 years.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Send your postcards and show off your summer travels: Bill Kirby
