Letterbox Inventory

July 9, 2009

I have kept almost every single piece of written correspondence I've gotten since elementary school.

Feeling nostalgic, I dug out the box where I have been keeping greeting cards, letters, and other various sorts of mail over years. Granted I have not put everything in this box in the course of my life, I would estimate that it contains 75-80% of what I have received. (No scientific reasoning there, just pure instinct.)

But if you are looking for a more accurate and statistical representation of my collection, I have created an inventory of the contents in my beloved letterbox.

Graduation Cards: 88 (My mom was in charge of sending graduation announcements, she had sent them to every person who has ever known me.)

Birthday Cards: 58

Valentines: 53

Pen Pal Letters: 51 (I've had 7+ pen pals from places like France, Sweden, Finland, Malta, and Turkey.)

Christmas Cards: 32

Thank You Cards: 30

Friendly Letters: 28 (Not including the infamous letter exchanges with my friend Ashlie during senior year of high school.)

Photos: 10 (Mostly of pen pals.)

Postcards: 9 (Not including the dozens of written postcards strewn within my expansive postcard collection.)

Professional Letters: 8 (One from Highlights for Children magazine stating they would consider publishing the drawings I submitted in 1998. They never did.)

Good Luck Cards: 6

Chain Letters: 6

Easter Cards: 5

Confirmation Cards: 4

Stickers: 2

Get Well Cards: 1 

Thanksgiving Cards: 1 (Seriously, a Thanksgiving card?)

Newspaper Clippings: 1

Seashells: 1

'98 Swedish Travel Guides: 1

$10 Target Gift Card: 1 (Still valid!)

I will do this again in another 10 years or so and produce a comparison and detailed analysis. Stay tuned.