When was the last time you sent a postcard, like, through the mail?  Something you had written to a friend, with a personalized message-an observation while you were on an adventure, that kind of thing. I will now explain why you should consider joining The Postcard Revolution™.

     I often ask songwriters about the actual nitty gritty process of writing-are they holding pencil in hand, the tyrannical blank page staring back at them every morning? Do they sit noodling with guitar? Do they wait for inspiration to strike, and grab their phone for a voice memo? The answers of course vary considerably, but many revolve around somehow capturing the first idea, the kernel of what might eventually lead to a song. And many have described how difficult it was during quarantine to come up with those new ideas; eventually realizing what they were missing:  they needed to be out in the world, observing and interacting. An overheard conversation, a weird roadsign, a brief chat with an interesting stranger, a beautiful vista, the things we see, hear, smell, these are the raw material of creativity. It follows then, that improving our tendencies to observe, to interact, to look up from our phones and pay attention to what is happening around us fosters and feeds our creative selves. And we don’t have to be songwriters to benefit from creative thinking-this is probably a topic for another screed  but take my word for it for now that cultivating our curious and creative tendencies just makes us better people: happier, more engaged; both interested and interesting.

 So why postcards? One of my first podcast guests, the highly talented musician and songwriter from Austin, Carson McHone, told me that when she is on the road, instead of writing in her daily journal as she and many creative types have been trained to do, she started the practice of writing postcards every day to friends and relations. She realized that the postcards required her to be more entertaining, and she was forced to be more observant to pull this off. Her previous journal entries might all read some version of, “stayed in cheap motel, driving seven hours in the rain, I’m tired and looking forward to the next show”. But her postcards demanded brief highlights of her travels-she described a beautiful field of flowers she passed by, or an interesting person she met at a gas station. In the process, she was forced to pay more attention to the world, and she compiled more creative ideas.

  So I invite you to join the postcard revolution. You don’t even have to be away from home to start! We send postcards from home that we have picked up in our travels over the years- thinking that we are confusing people with a card from a trip through Utah mailed from Illinois 3 years later adds to our fun. Musicians who come through our house, and any other random stragglers who find their way here, are offered postcards from our collection; we pre-stamp and address one with our home address and encourage them to send us one from anywhere. I know that some reading this still have in their possession said pre-addressed card-you can send it to us anytime, no questions asked, but check the address-we have moved!  I can say from personal experience that the habit of writing the cards while on traveling adventures does encourage me to be more observant, to take in novel surroundings with a more discerning eye, and to be more open to and curious about this grand world in which we walk past each other every day.  I look forward to hearing from you all soon! Don’t forget to write!

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   Chicago lost some light recently, with the passing of beloved WXRT DJ Lin Brehmer after a battle with cancer. It is hard to put into words for those outside the area what Lin meant to us all here; he was so much more than just the greatest DJ on one of the best stations in the country.

    Lin said he was “your best friend in the whole world”, and you believed him. On the air he would say, “Here comes the greatest song ever written” and he was correct, every time. He said, “I’m Lin Brehmer, I’m everywhere”, and you would indeed see him at all the shows, all the Cub games, all the restaurants, the festivals, sharing merriment with everyone, even though he had to be on the air at 5:00 the next morning. He was a wise, wise philosopher.  In a segment called “Lin’s Bin”, he would answer questions posed by listeners, using them as a launching pad for hilarious and beautifully touching essays on the meaning of life. I was honored when he once chose a question I submitted (“Why don’t the rock and roll guys ever wear shorts, aren’t they hot?”). When I was lucky enough to chat with Lin one day, he told me “oh, that was one of my favorite questions!”  And I believed him; why wouldn’t I, he was my best friend in the whole world.

  Lin was an eternal optimist; “take nothing for granted” he would say. Above all, Lin believed in and preached the power of music, the joy of music. “Not having a great day? Lean your forehead against the speaker and I’ll take care of you.”  All the little music related projects I spend time on take inspiration from Lin’s gospels.  “It’s fucking great to be alive”.  Right as always Lin, and music is a celebration.  

  Lin’s Bin: What Really Matters?