We received a postcard in the mail today. It was addressed to my son, using first and last names. The name was not my son's legal, given name. The name was what we actually call him. It simply says, "See you soon. Love, Gamaw." The postcard has "Kentucky Wildlife" on the front, with animals. Now, this is bazaar. We don't know anyone in Kentucky, not one person. We certainly have never called anyone gamaw, and we definitely won't be seeing anyone soon. I don't know why, but this kind of freaks me out!! How did someone get out address, and how do the know my son's name? Who is this person? So many questions!!!
Has anything like this happened to any of you? Should I not be weirded out by this? I just feel....creeped out. I wish I could track this postcard back to where it came from, or something. It's scary.
OH MY GOODNESS. It was from my mother in law. I called her once already, and she said it wasn't her. She called back a few minutes ago and remembered she did send a postcard! I knew she was in Tennessee. Apparently, she decided to drive to Kentucky. She randomly decided she wanted my son to call her "Gamaw." Without telling us, of course. I have no idea where that idea came from. Sheesh. She travels now without telling anyone...? Whole other issue, right there. I'm just glad I got a hold of her.
Anyway, I'm officially relieved. Creepy crisis averted.
J L- She didn't actually forget. I talked to her this morning, and she said she was embarrassed about the name thing, and my being creeped out by the situation. She was traveling to Tennesee, we knew that. She decided to take a trip to Kentucky, to get some pictures. (Family of photographers.) She just didn't tell anyone, because it was last minute. She didn't even stay the night, so she didn't think to call about a day trip, since she was in the same hotel in Tennessee. The "gamaw thing" was just random. She called her great grandmother this, apparently. She said she had told/asked my son to call her gamaw the last time he was with her. She assumed HE would remember. He's only 3, so of course he reverted to what he was used to. This whole thing really isn't as bad, as it seems to you. Trust me when I say...she does not have dementia!! Really, it's a funny comedy of errors. Nothing to do with her state of mind.
My husband was at work while this happened. He was still at work when I found out it was her. And, no...he wouldn't have recognized her handwriting. We live 45 minuted away from them. There is no reason for us to receive mail from her. He probably hasn't seen her handwriting since he was in college, over a decade ago. Condescending, much?
Bwahahaha!
I am totally going to do this stuff if I become a grandmother! I am so goofy and forgetful.
She sounds awesome!
I think that's the kind of grandmom I'll be. Sending postcards from strange places with strange nicknames and then forgetting it was me.
could it be from his grandma?
Did either grandma recently take a trip to KY?
Did you call the grandmothers and ask if they sent anything? Just because the postcard has Kentucky on it doesn't mean it came from KY. What is the postmark? You could always write return to sender on it and be done with it.
Take precaution.
Inform the police but nothing serious. They can be sure that no one else is doing this plus it will bring to mind suspects if something is wrong.
Call all of your family, friends. Make sure its not them.
Keep your eyes peeled for weird people. Or just people you don't know in the neighborhood. And to much information to your son is better in this case.
I would copy both sides of the post card and then turn it over to the police or the postmaster. It could be that another person has the same name as your child and a similar address but maybe the zip code was transposed. Instead of being 11001 it could be 11010 but the fact that it came with no return address, no real signature, and from no one you know AND it says 'see you soon' I would be extra careful.
Set up a password with your son and anyone except Mom, Dad and grandparents come to pick him up has to use the password. With my kids it was popcorn, anyone who picked them up had to say popcorn before my kids got into the car.
Did you by any chance look to see if there is a website connected to Kentucky Wildlife or look to see if maybe it came from the Serria Club or Audubon Society (tiny print on bottom of card). I get mail from organizations like this all the time asking for a donation and they often include a gift that is greeting cards, post cards, return address labels ect. Anyway that may be a clue as to where it came from.
Every now and then I get something strange. So far there has always been a simple explanation.
You didn't mention where it was mailed from. The postmark?
It's entirely possible that this is generated from some kind of automated service. Someone's Gamaw probably placed an order through Kentucky Wildlife and somehow they inserted the wrong name (the intended child's actual name).
For what it's worth, something similar happened to me as a child... except it was a court summons for theft. Seriously. There was another person with my EXACT full name and birth date (even spelled with a K) also living in Ft. Lauderdale at the time. Couple of phone calls later, my mother got it straightened out, but I wouldn't let this freak you out.
Call the company and ask!
Sounds like gamaw needs to see a memory care doctor. Dementia can set in at any age. This IS weird. Especially the fact that she forgot she sent it or that she was there...invented an odd name for herself and has been galavanting across the country and not even remembering the trip or telling relatives that she's going on a trip. Not good. Might be time to take the keys from her.
I'd file it away and just keep an eye out for any weirdness, like a phone call from someone you don't know. Remind your son of your protocol when someone other than Mom and Dad pick him up. It may simply be that someone went online, found an address and name that they thought was someone they knew, and mailed a post card.
It is strange and would creep me out. Is the post mark on the card also from Kentuck? Is your son old enough to use the internet? Could he have met someone online?
Seriously - no one saw the gamaw as grandma, or gramma, or grandmaw or mawmaw....
:)
Its summer, one of his friends is probably on vacation??
OMG I would be soooo creeped out.
I think it's kind of scarey also. I would call your local police department and see if they will at least take a report on it.
Also, maybe contact the postmaster and see if they can trace it from the postmark.
Keep your son close!
LOL glad you figured it out quickly!!
Kim
S. - Cake Decorating P.
