Can't come around just now

How is this card. A fellow gets in a bad shape sometimes, I am hauling wood today
Your friend,
A.M.

Addressed to:
Mr. Ellbert Phillippe
Bicknell, Indiana
R.RH20

I've been wanting to handle this postcard delicately because there are some things that I think about it that may be untrue of the folks involved. Wanting to be sensitive to that, I've taken some time to write this, so please bear with me.

Ok, so if you read this post, you know how I identify. Given that context, I know how this message reads to me from the distance of a century. However, I do feel it would be unfair and inappropriate to make definite statements about Mr. Phillippe and the person who wrote this card.

There is a story here, a story that makes me yearn for it to be true. The context clues are what tell a story, and maybe it isn't one the addresser and recipient intended. Notice how I'm equivocating? I don't want to say with certainty, but wouldn't it be wonderful?

I mean, look at it. The man in the image seems to be having an issue with his pants. The text certainly can be read with a bit of a not-PG-13 rating. To this millennial, it does make it possible to make some assumptions. I hope they wouldn't mind if I dreamt for a little and to assume, even for a minute. Or at least I hope they would forgive with empathy.

We always say "representation is important", but here it's so visible in me. It's that yearning across years, wondering if they too were like me. It's the wishing and hoping if just for a moment there were people with experiences like mine, struggles like ours. If they too were happy to write saucy letters to their lovers. If they would forgive us wondering who their lovers were. Wondering if they were more than just roommates.

Would it be inappropriate to thank them for that moment of yearning, even if it's untrue? I don't know, but I hope it would be ok.

I have another postcard addressed to Mr. Phillippe, but it is from another person and definitely not of the same mystery. So more to come.