Author: glenfarrelly

Glen Farrelly is a professor of communications at Athabasca University and a PhD graduate at the Faculty of Information, University of Toronto. His research examines mobile applications, locative technology, artificial intelligence, and user experience. During his ten years working in digital media, Glen helped launch one of Canada’s first mobile apps and more recently one of Canada's first locative history applications. He is also a digital media consultant and tech blogger. Visit glenfarrelly.com for more information.

How It All Began – Back in 1977

My postcard collection began almost fifty years ago with the postcard below.

I remember getting my first postcard in the mail and being incredibly excited! This postcard was just for me (and didn’t include my pesky brothers). It depicted scenery so different from my nondescript hometown!

It’s of the Colorado mountains. Note the scalloped edge – that style of border was popular during the 1960s and 1970s (and with stock that lasted into the 80s).

I was pretty young when I got this, so I doubt that I could read the message as it is written in cursive.

Message caption:
“Clouds around Pikes Peak, alt. 14,110 ft. as seen from top of Rampart Range Road in the Pikes Peak Region, Colorado.”

Message text:
“Hi! Glen
How are you? I am sorry not to write early, but been busy climbing mountains and sight seeing. But today we are too poop out to do any. Here the weather has been beautiful, sunny and warm. Yesterday we were at a rodeo. Boy what a time we had. We’ll be leaving this Thursday and will see you when I come back. See you later.”

An illustrious beginning to an awesome collection! And, to date, it remains the only postcard I have from Colorado.