Jannie Wrote A Letter — a short poem
Flash Fiction 55, Friends, Photography, Poetry | Posted by Jannie on 31 March 2011 @ 5:55 PM 53 Comments
Jannie wrote a letter
on vellum crisp as snow
and everywhere that Jannie went
the letter it did go.
It followed her for burgers
a taco
and a brew.
It munched some Whole Foods candies
and kissed some jump-ups blue.
Jannie wrote a letter.
It flew across the sea.
And boy, were its arms tired
when it reached Hilary.
56 words for The G-Man.
Sorry — it’s supposed to be 55.
Write a little story in 55 words,
go tell it on G-Man’s mountain and
he’ll shine his ever-lovin’ light on you.
xoxoxooxox
On 31 March 2011 at 6:25 pm Alice Audrey said,
I bet that poor letter was tired from all the flapping, but I’ll bet Hillary was glad to get it. You write good letters.
On 31 March 2011 at 7:18 pm brian said,
56…we get a bonus? nice little tale of the letter…glad it found its way…
On 31 March 2011 at 7:30 pm dustus said,
I hold my iPad with my toes. lol Love the 56 word/visual story combo. Have a great weekend, Jannie
On 31 March 2011 at 7:38 pm Ana Goncalves said,
Jannie,
Lovely to be here.
How are you?
What a truly jolly way to see the unfolding journey of a letter!
I love the way you write, and I can hear you singing it all the way.
Such a meaningful way to give life to mail.
Which reminds me would you be willing to pen-pal? (Seeing as I am not as frequent on here anymore)
Love
xx
On 31 March 2011 at 7:42 pm Lisa said,
What an absolutely adorable post. I Love It!
Lisa
InspiredbyLisa
On 31 March 2011 at 7:52 pm Monkey Man said,
Cool. Bet she liked it.
On 31 March 2011 at 8:02 pm Mama Zen said,
I want some sour gummie bats!
On 31 March 2011 at 8:08 pm hedgewitch said,
A day in the life of a very busy letter. I hope you didn’t have to stick all those stamps on with your toes. And like Mama Zen, I want a sour gummie bat too! (Better to want than to be one.)
On 31 March 2011 at 8:19 pm KB said,
Your letters are the best. I will treasure mine xxx
On 31 March 2011 at 8:21 pm G-Man said,
Jannalisa….Your Killin Me!!
And they still make Bartles and James? I LOVED that stuff!!!
Loved your International 55.
You Rock Capital City!!
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End!!
On 31 March 2011 at 8:22 pm Daisy said,
That was a fun poem.
I bet that is a nice letter too. Have a good weekend, Jannie.
On 31 March 2011 at 9:11 pm Jingle said,
wow, you always give rocking 55s, this one is super delicious and creative…
did you eat the burger?
admire you, remained so fit and winsome..
Happy Weekend.
On 31 March 2011 at 9:14 pm Janna said,
OMG…. this reminds me that I got a letter from you last year and I think I totally forgot to say thank you. (!!!)
Sorry about my lousy memory.
It’s sort of like swiss cheese, only with more holes and less nutty flavor.
Thank you for the fun letter.
It was great.
And thanks for another Friday 55! (55, 56, whatever.)
Mine’s here.
On 31 March 2011 at 9:18 pm Steve E said,
Hey Jannie!
Girl, you do some WORK on these 55s, GooooD work! BTW, It is not KINSEY, Say after me now: K I N K Y…now say it fast: KINKY..there ya GOT it!
BTW, I LOVE feet–really, but even my wife (20 years) does not know this.
Aside from all that childish stuff from me, my “serious” 55 is HERE
On 31 March 2011 at 9:19 pm Steve E said,
you have nice feet–grin!
On 31 March 2011 at 9:57 pm Rachel said,
Love this! My friends across the pond love it when I post them something, too. Oh, I should go write a letter… feeling guilty now!
Great 55!
On 31 March 2011 at 11:43 pm Talon said,
I love a well-travelled missive!
Sweet 55, Jannie! xx
On 1 April 2011 at 1:01 am MorningAJ said,
That’s a LOT of stamps! (But it’s a long way)
Strange coincidence but we’re off to East Sussex tomorrow for a short vacation.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’m not sure why my link doesn’t work because I use the full thing that you suggested.
So try that link instead!
On 1 April 2011 at 1:45 am Steve Isaak said,
Fun, whimsical piece.
On 1 April 2011 at 3:21 am desk49 said,
I hope Hilary likes her letter
and photos sent from you
On 1 April 2011 at 3:40 am jinksy said,
That was a delightful 55 – er 56! But who’s counting? LOL
On 1 April 2011 at 3:46 am Alessandra aka A said,
You did work for this, girl! nice job
On 1 April 2011 at 6:27 am Jannie said,
Loved all these comments that have my heart smiling.
Friday! Whooooohooo.
Xxxxxooooo
On 1 April 2011 at 7:01 am hpicasso said,
not a word wasted…all fiddy six of em’
Peace, hp
On 1 April 2011 at 7:22 am Belinda said,
Love the words and the pics both. This post gave me the warm and fuzzies so I bet Hilary will be happy to receive this letter. xoxo
On 1 April 2011 at 8:45 am Linda said,
Hi Jannie,
I’m falling behind again. This was such a fun post, filled with food, beverage, and a traveling envelope. It had a long journey ahead of it. I just love your 55s.
On 1 April 2011 at 9:19 am Eric 'Bubba' Alder said,
Hey! Grab me one of those cappuccino stouts! Cute 55, Jannie!
P.S.. Cute toes!
On 1 April 2011 at 10:23 am Jannie said,
Ahhh, thanks Alice Audrey. Letter writing is fun for me. I was born with a pencil in my hand.
Yep, Brian, one extra word — but no additional charge.
Adam!! You are kidding, right on your iPad with toes???
Ana, Ana, Ana, I have 19 letters to write, then one to you. Can you wait?? :
Ah, thank you lovely Lisa! You are kinda adorable yourself!!
Hey, Monkey Man, and her letters to me are always a treat.
Hey, Mama Z — I’ll mail you some, one day!!
Hey, Hedgewitch, did you know bats and Austin, TX are synonymous? Yes, on eating one, rather than being one.
G-Man Jannalisa, oooo I like that! I have a niece named Annalisa. I don’ tknow if I’ve ever had a B&J, once I found Heineken I never looked at another beverege. Internaitonally yours, you 55 host with the most…xoxo
Ahh, thanks Daisy — and I used some of my finest stamps, ones I bought in ‘95 or ‘95. maybe ‘96.
Hi Jingle — I actually had just snacked before the burger place, but the children enjoyed them — and shakes! And always great to see you.
Janna — you are very welcome for that letter I sent!! Did you frame it?
Steve E. lol, lol. KINKY.
I Googled after my comment at G-Man’s and see the Kinsey report was much earlier tnan ‘69. Oh, I actually took the photos over a period of a couple weeks, as I recall. Spent much more time on this post than actually writing the letter!! 
Rachel, I deal with letter guilt all the time too. But let’s kick guilt to the curb — it is not a friendly emotion for us!
Gotta zip for a minute…
xoxoxoxo
On 1 April 2011 at 10:38 am Jannie said,
Hi Talon! Yes, it was almost hard to part with that letter that had become quite a buddy to me.
Hey, Morning AJ, Wow — waht a cooincidence about you going to East Sussex soon. Yes, 7 stamps, a lucky number, I think. And they are from the 90s, from my very private and dwindling stash. But better to give away than hoard. Oh, and your link works fine now — the one for your MorningAJ. I guess it was just a matter of putting in the blogspot part of the URL. THANKS!! you so beautifully, magically wonderfully ROCK. Have fun in E. Sussex. You should look up Hilary – she is AWESOME!!!
Hey, Steve I. Thanks. Fun and whimsy are my second and third names!!
Hi, Desk 49. You have been missed here in Funsterland. Do nyou know Hilary/ She is awesome — like you!!
Hey Jinksy — great to see you again! Yes, 55, 56, pretty close. I just couldn’t figure out which word to cut. I hope G-Man will let me continue, after me breaking the rules.
Hi A!! Well, just a little “work” but more fun than anything. I had carried the letter around with me, to write on a bit here and there, and the camera was with me and… well, it happened!!
Jannie!!
HPicasso — it took me 8 hours straight work to write the words. How I labor over the love of my art.
Ahh, thanks Belinda, you re always so sweet. Hilary did get the letter indeed. And she is a wonderful letter-writer herself. And wonderful human entity.
Ahhh, dearest Linda, I totally know the “falling Behind” thing where blog reading is concerned. Always lovely to see you. Ahhh, thanks.
Hey, Eric! Yes I was wondering about the cappucino beer – would make wide-awake drunks out of us??
Yes, I kinbda like my toes too, have had them all my life, and they’ve really come in handy. 
xoxoxooxoxoxxo
On 1 April 2011 at 11:09 am Lynn said,
You sure *do* rock, Jannie Muffin. I’ll bet Hilary loves getting that letter – it’s famous now! xoxo
On 1 April 2011 at 12:37 pm Jennifer Susannah Devore said,
Aren’t receivables just fab?! I adore all my belle lettres, including yours, and keep them wrapped with ribbons, tukced into tidy gift bags and all stored in neat little wooden chests and trunks. Apropos, keep an eye out for your mailperson … une p’tite chose de Californie et Moi, a Toi!
Salut!
On 1 April 2011 at 3:47 pm Olivia said,
Flashing your toe nails.. huh?
That’s really witty..
I loved the flowers.. hahaha
Burgers- why did you have to make me drool at 2.30am? Just why..?
Wishing you a beautiful weekend ahead- Hugs x
On 1 April 2011 at 3:48 pm susan said,
Hi Jannie! Hey, our toes are the same color! Love that pink in the spring! Oh – and speaking of LOVE – I totally want your Johnny Jump Ups! I planted some at the lakehouse one year and the deer really appreciated those. Tried them in pots and they just didn’t thrive. Guess I need to move to Texas!
hugs
suZen
On 1 April 2011 at 4:34 pm Carmen's Chronicles said,
Well, the letter had a wonderful jaunt about town before it headed off to merry old England. I’m sure Hilary was delighted to open it at the other end. You’ve just reminded me that it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen my good friends in Rye. Wish I could head over to visit them!
On 1 April 2011 at 5:27 pm Tess The Bold Life said,
Jannie,
How fun are these photos? Have a happy running weekend!
On 2 April 2011 at 1:26 am Dianne at Rhythm of the Light said,
oh I love those toes , ok, Tuesday Toes next week will have a pedicure on my blog. Fun images, my 55 is up HERE
On 2 April 2011 at 2:46 am SnaggleTooth said,
Wow, Can’t beieve I beat Hilary here…
Lovely 55, n adventures for a piece of mail which will surely add much cheer to her life-
If your toes were here they’d be hiding in warm socks- still in 40Fs n rainy, but at least not frozen-yay!
Have a fun week-end!
On 2 April 2011 at 10:51 am LL Cool Joe said,
I assume you don’t have cheesy feet then?
Wow, people still write letters?? How cool. I bet Hilary loved receiving it too!
On 2 April 2011 at 12:22 pm Hilary said,
She She She did did did .. and she’s very late .. but the letter arrived safely exactly as shown .. and I showed my mother how fantastically kind my friends from overseas are .. sending a real letter, with a Kestrel stamp after the Nursing Home name, and red Cardinals (beautiful bird – to the little English me!) .. and then flowers for my Mama .. she smiled with pleasure.
And the letter read like a journal .. starting with “Unassembled Snowmen – for sale .. Going Cheap” .. some had stuck a sign in their yard (yes American garden!) as the snow was melting .. but the one my Mama remembers is the snowman on a bench with a noose around his neck .. my Mama’s comment when I told her – straight up was “I bet he’s longing for it to thaw”!!
My vellum paper had a preserved flower on it – beautiful .. Tyrean blue ..
Then there was a break .. and we were at The Screaming Goat for a taco, and to Hut’s Hamburgers before that, then on Sunday it had a real day out .. cafe, lolly shop, beer aisle, and into the bed of pansies it flew for a rest (or a sleep) .. it felt the climb up the tree with a glass or vino could be dangereuse … pansies were a safer bet ..
then there were toes .. pink painted ones .. then the car … then coffee and muffin – was she ever going to post it .. the vellum wondered … and then the johnny-jump-ups came along too ..
.. and then the P.D. .. whatever that is .. I’ma swimming with exhaustion towards a glass of vino with my letter in hand – it must be ready for a top up .. it’s travelled the Ocean …
… even BB didn’t use his private tube to bring the epistle over ..
My oh My and I’m learning my alphabet on this A – Z challenge a mere 1200 of us have going on .. and I’m a kinda bleary eyed .. on the B day …. but can’t wait to get to the D for DELIGHTED DAY .. lucky me – a whole post and tulips for our Mother’s Day … my Mama will enjoy this so so so much ..
And I’m late to my own party … JANNIE THIS IS MOST WUNDERBAR OF YOU … you’re a star in all firmaments .. lots of love to everyone and to the Funster family and Maningments …. xoxoxoxoxox Hilreeeeeee
On 2 April 2011 at 12:25 pm Jannie said,
Hello very lovely people. Thanks for all wonderful sentiments.
I’m heading to The Lake to gaze upon the castle waters.
I’ll be back later. I really will!
Hilreeeee — whooooohoooo.
xooxoxoxox
On 2 April 2011 at 12:49 pm Paige von Liber said,
I love Hil and those stamps! So tell me what is in the envelope? No, better yet don’t tell me on accounta I don’t want to get all jelly
btw I want to smell those soaps pictured below
On 2 April 2011 at 1:06 pm Hilary said,
Hi Paige .. me is a lucky girl .. and ze luvs me too and ze stamps I know .. and the envelope is full of BBs kisses, hugs and stroky hair .. while I can just scent de soaps through the paper and the envelope .. mind you with a whiff of burger thrown in for good measure .. !! Cheers and luvs to al .. H
On 2 April 2011 at 4:49 pm Alice Audrey said,
It’s a trial for me. Hand writing makes my fingers cramp up.
On 2 April 2011 at 7:51 pm Dr. J said,
When is a letter more than just a letter?
We know.
On 3 April 2011 at 6:53 am sheila said,
wonderful! Loved this!
On 3 April 2011 at 10:38 am Jannie said,
Hi Dear Lynn, thanks. A famous letter indeed. I wonder does it know??
Hi Dear Jennifer, something came in the mail yesterday!!!!!!!! I’m waiting for just the right moment to open it, preferably on the botanical gardens, for max photo ops. I LOVE the Disney attachment on the exterior. Thank you. Thank you sooooo much.
Hi Dear Olivia — had someone awakened you in the night? You like burgers, eh??? me too. And now I’ve taken that old paint off, and getting ready for the April color. A deep coral would be nice, I think!
Hi Dear Susan, alas those are not MY johnny-jump-ups. They are by the side of the road at “The Natural Gardener.” They are my fave, tho. So so so cute. And I’m fixing to put new toe paint on in the next few days, going for deep coral this time I think.
Hi Dear Carmen. I’ve neer been to Rye, tho in my younger day a bit of that whiskey did pass my lips. yes, a well-travelled letter is more interesting I think.
Hi Dear Tess. I’ve not run this weekend, but look forward to sprinting tomorrow morning. Yes, fun, fun, fun pix.
Hi Dear Dianne — Tuesday Toes, sounds like a hoot! Mine are actually bare again, giving them a bit of a breather before the next color goes on. I’ll buy that Sally Hansen again — realy impressed with its staying power, they stayed good for like, 4 weeks.
Hi Dear Snaggle, please send some of your lovly cool weather and rain, it’s getting a tad too hot for me here already. Yes, Hilary has been very busy of late, but so glad she made it in.
Hi Dear LLCoolJoe, there’s nothing cheezy about me — except some of my poems once in a while.
Hi Dear Hilary, Hilary, Hilary, Hilary, Hilary, Hilary!!! Welcome. I know — how cool about that Kestrel. American, but still cute. Is there a British Isles Kestrel? I’m afraid the letter was rather short at just the one page, spent much more time on the photos and post than the actual writing.
Oh my goodness — snowmen with nooses on necks, frightening. No snowmen here, that’s for sure. Shorts weather now. Yes, you’ve taken on quite3 a challenge, that a to z. Please take it easy and ENJOY!!
Hi Dear Paige — no reason for jellies (or jams) T’was jsut a single page missive. But on nice paper, with a real pressed flower in.
There were some spots of moondust, fairy wishes and spritely whispers within, tho! 
Hi Dear Lovely Hilary again! Did you smell the yummy all-natural burger on whole wheat bun? I thought that would stick.
Hi Dear Alice Audrey, if Im in one bodily position I can write kinda fluidly. but I know what you mean, cramped fingers. More used to keyboard now.
Hi Dear Dr. J!!! A letter for all ages in the blogosphere.
Be sure to comment on a future “letter give-away” post. I’m sure I’ll have one soon!!
Hi Dearest Sheila, thanks. and did you notice about your soap give-away post next Friday?? yep!!!
xoxoxoxooxxoxoox
On 3 April 2011 at 11:28 am Jo Miffo said,
$12 49
I think maybe its £1.50 here in the supermarket 
But I do like the looks of the juice drink called B&J very interesting…. I must try that some day soon 
For a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale
Good grief thats bloody expensive
Today is Mothers day here in the U.K. & I’ve been spoilt in all the right ways
& have had a rather splendid day 
Although I do wish that there was a telephone in heaven so that I could have a natter with my mum 
I’ve dropped my poop off at the airport & I’ll miss her greatly
Well I’m off to beautify myself & go out for a meal with the remaining Mifflin Misfits…
Love you Jannie Bananie xoxoxoxox
Oh & I ate a raisin today by accident, yuk it was awful, why wud anyone want to eat one of those shrivelled up rabbit poo I’ll never know….
On 3 April 2011 at 1:25 pm Jannie said,
Darling, beautiful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, awesome Jo!!!
Mothering Sunday! I know about that. Our Mother’s Day is in May. Yeah, holy crap — that NewCastle Brown is expensive in Texas. I’m a Heineken gal, myself!
And where is The Poop off to??
I’m off to beautify myself too. using baby shampoo (bald spots, see my latest post.)
I ony like raisins in a nice rice pudding.
xoxooxoxoxxo
On 8 April 2011 at 9:26 am Ana Goncalves said,
Regarding the letters, I can surely wait!
Just let me know when you have some time to write, and contact me directly via my website for address.
Hope you are having the start to a lovely Spring. xx
On 8 April 2011 at 10:54 am Jannie said,
Ahhh, hi Dear Ana! You have a new address since you sent me tha tboo and yummy yummy chocolate??
I hope YOU are having a lovely spring. I bet the gardens over there are bursting with joy and tender brilliance.
xoxoxo
On 8 April 2011 at 11:12 am Ana Goncalves said,
Hello Jannie,
It’s the same address.
Spring is truly delightful here, very warmth and the vividness of the eco-systems are truly vibrant. Hope all is well too. xx
Love
Ana
On 8 April 2011 at 5:02 pm Andrea said,
I found your site from another bloggers site, and I love your stories!! I love the picture of the Whole Foods candies. I’m addicted to their version of peanut M&M’s. I know they’re still not the healthiest things in the world, but they’re sooo good. Your blog is a lot of fun to read. I wish I had your creativity!
On 11 April 2011 at 5:48 pm Jannie said,
Awesome, Ana — and I really LOVE th enew look of your site, very very pretty and artsy.
Thanks, Andrea. But you ARE creative — just trust yourself and dive on IN!
xoxoxoxoxo