The time I introduced myself.

I grew up in a south west suburb of Chicago, in a typical blue-collar neighborhood where everyone knew everyone else and your door was always open. Each weekday my father would come home from work and brew a pot of coffee. My mother would arrive home shortly after the coffee was done. Both would fix their cup and, if the weather was nice, sit outside to unwind after work. Slowly, but surely, our surrounding neighbors would make their way to our home to enjoy a cup of coffee, some coffee cake, and local gossip. Growing up in a community like this made for a great childhood. Games of tag that spanned two blocks of houses, impromptu pool parties, and sleepovers are some of my favourite childhood memories, along with the many cups of coffee and slices of coffee cake my mother always had at the ready.

In the summer of 2016, my husband’s company moved our family to London. I left behind a decade long position as a middle school science teacher, my children left behind their friends, and we all left behind a life in a community we built one PTA meeting, church picnic, summer camp, and soccer (football) match at a time.

We settled in south east London, which is to say, my husband hit the ground running, my children started their new school without any hiccups and I became a stay at home mother for the first time in my life suffering from an identity crisis. Struggling with the isolation a long distance move creates, I found myself lonely, feeling isolated and depressed. Determined to find my footing, I decided to explore my new home all the while taking photos to share with friends and family back in the states.

Photography became my reason to leave the house each day. I would head to a new area of London to explore. I quickly discovered the many personalities of London. I grew to love the various areas for different reasons and am hard pressed, today, to pick a favorite. As time wore on, connected with other London photographers and formed some amazing friendships.

I share my photos on my Instagram account under the name Postcards.from.London and treat each post as if it is a postcard sent home, sharing bits or our life, London history, and my random thoughts. I sign every caption with ‘wish you were here’ as a kitschy homage to the way postcards were once signed, but its a silent wish sent out to my mother who passed in 2019.

During COVID-19 lockdown, I focused on sharing my photos and telling longer stories in other ways and the Postcards from London blog was born. I’ve shared various parts of our lives from homeschooling, our participating in zoom events, and recipes I’ve made now that I have time to cook. The goal of the blog is to continue sharing our view of London life.

Wish you were here,

xoxo