I think DMS' post demonstrated his passion for
letterboxing rather than harshness. He is a great
contributor to letterboxing, someone I aspire to be
like in this hobby.

The cold hard truth is - we put those boxes out there
and someone is going to put their hands on them. We
may not like how they bag them back up, we might not
like that they stamped the back of a page, we might
not agree with a HH they dropped in our box, we might
not like that they didn't hide them back well, but we
invited them to touch and feel our artwork and we
should respect the fact that they gave us the gift of
a visit and communicated that by making their mark.

When I read his post, I finally understood what it is
I truly love about letterboxing - it IS a dynamic art
form. I tried geocaching, and while I can see why
some folks like it, it wasn't for me. It was sterile
and the "high" of the find was pretty short-lived.

When we pack up a box and set out to plant it, there
is a reason for what we've put in the box and a reason
for why we put it where we do (at least in my case
there is). That's our gift. We set it in its perfect
condition into its hiding place and walk away from it.
Before the day is out, the elements set to work on
it. Wouldn't it be interesting to set a hidden camera
on a box and video "The secret life of a letterbox"?

The first finder comes and stamps in and immediately
changes the art of the box - now there are two images
in it. And not only that, but the box has changed the
dynamic of the finder's logbook too! And so the
interaction begins.

After reading his post, it made me realize I should
treat my logbook like the work of art that it is (it
looks like it's been carried around in a backpack - oh
wait! It has!). I should take a little more time
stamping in to a box. I should think a little harder
about the logs I put into my boxes. If I'm actively
participating in an art form, I need to remember that
I am an artist, whether I'm carving or stamping or
placing.

I've always maintained that for me it's all about the
experience, but looking at it after reading DMS' post,
I have to admit that I haven't given due appreciation
to the artistry of the stamps and the logbooks at the
end of the journey. Not saying I don't appreciate
them at all, because I really do, but what's in that
box IS important!

Lucy





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