Monday, July 6, 2009

Postcard to Jan Trexler Kennedy, 1984





To get started, here's a postcard Updike sent to my wife in 1984, in reply to a letter saying how she had enjoyed his poem "Azores." Jan wasn't a complete stranger: Updike would certainly have recognized her maiden name, and she undoubtedly pointed out that her uncle was Jim Trexler, who appears in the 1950 Shillington High School yearbook directly above JU. His description of the UGA campus as "longitudinal" is precise; indeed, it extends southward from downtown Athens. The final word is misspelled. On the front, note his trademark rubber stamp.

Looking for Updike postcards

John Updike, who died in January 2009, was known for his prompt and kind postcards in response to mail from friends and strangers alike. This site is devoted to displaying Updike's postcards, and invites submissions. Send JPEGs of both sides to chernclass@aol.com.