One Way Mail

I pass this Princess Peach mural regularly and I love Super Mario Brothers (specifically: the oldest cartoons and games).

Possibly the best way to increase mail supply is to simply make more mail. I love receiving mail, it is amazing and delightful — but more than anything — I like making it.

I think about them like blog posts or social media posts. And sometimes they start off that way then become mail or vice versa.

This digs deep into my philosophy of art in totality: it does not need to be big or complicated or expensive, and I’m not convinced that it is better if that path is pursued.

I wanted more color in my life, I wanted to watch an old cartoon, I've been thinking about Super Mario lately, the second movie (of this iteration) is coming out soon.

Asking the hard hitting questions: Do you think the powerup mushrooms have different tastes?

Mail art. Art mail.

Small and direct. Specific or general.

From me to you without expectation of reciprocation (or anything else).

Old Ghost Yells at Lakitu Cloud

Made because I wanted to make something and I wanted you to have it.

It might be something that we both like, that I like and maybe you will to, and/or literally just something I wanted to make and you, friend, recipient, were somewhat randomly chosen to receive it.

I honestly do not know if the recipient of this letter and I have ever discussed Super Mario before. Or video games. I'm sure we have talked about old cartoons, this being one of my favorite topics.

I wrote a post script on the actual letter, "Have I mailed you this topic before? I kinda feel like I have."

There is at least a 50% chance this is a repeated message, similar stickers, same ideas. It is so easy to self-edit. Collapse desire into thinking "oh I don't want to bother you with this 3 AM ramble."

Here's the thing.

Here's the great thing.

My friend, receiving this letter, can easily, silently, glance at it and shred it. Read or unread. I'll never know. I'm not going to follow up. This isn't a test, there aren't grades, no one is getting paid, there will never be an audit.

My friend, receiving this letter, can easily put it on a shelf or in a box or drawer after enjoying it and re-read it again in a week, on my birthday, on March 10 (MAR10) in 10 years. "Ha! Oh yeah. The #2 Mario Letter."

One of the reasons, maybe the main reason, I love mail is to have a thought, make something, combine things made by others, collage, sticker, doodle, delight, tape tape tape sticker stamp postage zoom boom gloom... into the mailbox.

One way mail solves the problem of "I don't know what to say."

What's going on.

What are you reading. What are you watching. What is in your YouTube queue. Funny joke. Commercial on TV. Commercial you randomly remembered. Holiday, popular or private. Holiday that isn't a holiday but should be.

Neat sticker. Neat activity book. Paper.

No reason at all, the singular and uncomplicated impetus: "I want to make mail."