“Hi Marianne,
I live in Luzern and the 3 things I love the most is 1st- cheese 2nd- cheese 3rd- cheese
The surrounding mountains and the massive lake are okayish.
Just kidding 
It’s wonderful!!! ‘Wish you were here’
xx Lau”
“Hello Marianne!
I hope you’re feeling better
The three best things in Lima are:
1. ‘El Virrey! It’s a bookstore meets teahouse. What else could I ask for?
2. Kennedy Park. It’s full of homeless (yet healthy) cats cavorting around. Plus, it’s surrounded by cafes and various shops and restaurants.
3. Its grey sky. I find it quite soothing and soul cleansing.
Wish you were here!
Veronica”
“Hallo tante Marianne,
Oit ayn de 3 dingen die ik hier in Den-Helder het Leukse vind:
1. Die heerlyke ijsjes van Laan eten .
2. Al het gras om een tent op te kunnen zetten.
3. Ol het water om in te zuemmen.
I wish you were here
Heel weel liefs
xxx Samantha”
Marianne Houghton is traveling the world through postcards and strangers because of the creativity of her 27-year old daughter, Tanya. Having watched her mother struggle with lung cancer for three years only to recently discover a large brain tumor, Tanya wanted to surprise her mother in a unique and personal way. They had long exchanged postcards and recognizing this as an important aspect of their relationships, Tanya launched the site I Wish You Were Here Project on July 2nd as a way for strangers to bring Marianne into their homes despite her being too ill to travel. Postcards from around the world – specific to towns, states, and countries – started arriving as early as July 4th.
While many of the postcards include well wishes for Marianne, that was not Tanya’s intention. By asking senders to list their three favorite things about their hometown (or for many, where they are currently living or have previously lived), Tanya is hoping to let her mother visualize each place and to explore the places she was never able to see. By sharing the postcards that arrive online, visitors to the site can travel with Marianne.
Marianne on her last trip to the Caribbean
Postcards have arrived from much of the United States and Europe as well as from parts of Canada, South and Central America, Asia, and even South Africa, all to Marianne’s home in London, England. With more arriving each day, Tanya keeps a Google map of all of the places her mother has been able to visit through postcards.
It’s no surprise the project has been a success. With well-known initiatives like PostSecret receiving handmade postcards by the dozens daily, generating books and iPhone apps and tours, and more than anything: creating a community, it’s obvious that people want to reach out to one another. Despite any culture gaps, people want to feel just a little bit closer in such a uncertain world.
While Marianne’s future is regrettably uncertain, she has been overwhelmed “by the kindness of total strangers from all over the world that have taken the time to sit and write and send her a postcard. It has cheered her up to no end and put a smile on her face whilst she goes through this tough time.” No doubt the postcards have been comforting to her daughter too; every daughter thinks her mom is special, but hundreds of strangers think she is too.
You can send postcards to Marianne via
Marianne Houghton
Flat 3 Oslo House East Wing
15 Prince Edward Road
Hackney Wick
London
E9 5EU
ENGLAND
Rebecca Pollock
