I like to send mail to people. I mean REAL mail. Like a handwritten note on a cool card (or sometimes a postcard) in a nice envelope with a stamp specifically chosen for that person/card/message and sometimes a quote sticker on the envelope flap. I send so many cards that I began a "card log" where I write down what card I sent to whom and with what message. I know...a little OC. But I don't want someone to get the same card twice or, even worse, the same message MORE than twice. 

It is a rare occasion that I am at a loss for words (all my friends out there can stop laughing now). Usually when I want to send a card to someone, I can sit down at my special writing desk (reserved JUST for writing cards) and have no problem picking out a card and writing a quick note to that person. The one exception to that rule is my mom.

My mom and I talk on the phone quite a bit and email each other often. And since I spent a good nine months living IN her (not to mention 20+ years or so living WITH her) and we share some of the same genes, we have that weird "connection" thing going on. You know what I'm talking about...that "hey, I was just going to call you" thing. So when I sit down to write her a note, I'm sometimes stuck. What am I going to say to her that I'm not going to talk to her about on the phone later tonight or write to her in one of the two or five or dozen emails we send each other throughout the day? And yet, I want to send her SOMETHING. But it can't just be ANYTHING. She is, after all, my mom.

Enter Circle Journey. 

I can't remember how or when I discovered Circle Journey but somehow it made its way into my life. Think of Circle Journey as a mini journal or photo album or multi-page card or sketch pad that you pass back and forth through the mail. One moment I have it. Then I write or draw or glue or whatever in it and then I send it to my mom. Then she writes or draws or glues or whatever in it and sends it back to me. And then we do it again. And then again. And then again.

	"Cup of Conversation" is the name of our Circle Journey book.
	Starting fresh, starting new. Whatever we want to do. Two pages each and every time. With nothing to limit us...not even lines! A full spread for you and a full spread for me. A full book of our creativity!
	"Finished" entry: photos, lists, comments, observations...just random bursts of fun.

What I like about our Circle Journey is that it doesn't have to make sense (which is good because neither of us is known for making much sense anyway). It is not about context. It isn't even really about "keeping in touch" since we do that already. It is just whatever we want to do or say or show at the time. Sometimes weeks go by before it gets passed on. Sometimes months. It doesn't matter. It's like a game of tag without all the running around (which is also good because my mom runs marathons and participates in half triathlons and she'd kick my butt in a real game of tag). The point is to share. The point is to receive something special in the mail. The point is to have fun. The point is the journey and the circle.  

I have two more Circle Journey books sitting on my writing desk...just waiting for the right person (or persons) to send it to. Anyone up for a little tag?