The Kindness of Friends and Strangers

I received a delightful surprise in the mail from my friend Aileen, who makes and sells the Color Mists I'm always going on about. She used a tin and an image of Nellie for this beautiful mail art.

The back of the tin actually has the address on it, and she put it in this clear envelope to mail it. Here's what it looked like when it arrived.

This isn't the first time Aileen has sent me mail art. When I get upset with the postal service, I try to remember this story. A couple of years ago, she sent me an altered cigar box. She created a collage inside and placed a piece of clear acrylic on the front, and then mailed it just like that. No envelope, wrapper, nada. When it arrived here, it was in great shape, except that one rhinestone which had been glued on the front had fallen off. Some kind postal worker had found that rhinestone and taped it to the box! I never took the tape off or glued the rhinestone back in place — I left it just where it was carefully placed to remind me there are still kind and caring people out there.

"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
-from A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (1914–1983)