This is the first card that I typed in Chicago this weekend as part of an exhibition at the McCormick Freedom Museum. As I listened to Ms. Adams dictate her postcard to the next president, goosebumps ran down my spine. We are making history and with this project I am documenting it. I can't think of a more important thing to do. Except, perhaps, to make sure that our next leader actually gets these missives.

I've been typing postcards to the next president since February, and now have 530 cards from people in 18 cities across the United States. More than a few tears have been shed at my office desk. There's something magical that happens in the few minutes I share with each person who stops by. We enter an intense communication that often becomes emotional and that emotion often winds up in the messages people send.

"Please help my daughters to feel proud of being an American and please give them a better future," implored Carlos Arboleda as his two young daughters stood by. Mr. Arboleda is entrusting the next president with this task and it's because of him and people like him that I feel compelled to make sure these postcards actually reach Barack Obama.

I began my quest in Chicago, where the Freedom Museum is featuring an exhibit of 300 cards to the next president that were dictated at various "I Wish to Say" shows - plus photos of the people who sent them. The Obama campaign office on Michigan Avenue seemed like a logical first stop. But my initial attempt was quickly thwarted as the only way into the building was through revolving doors and I had my baby along in a stroller that couldn't make it through the doors.

The next day I put the baby in the sling and headed out again. This time I was stopped at the reception area. I decided to try and talk my way in... I know someone fairly high up in the Obama campaign team and told the receptionist I had an appointment with him. "You're not in the database," she told me. Hmm... "Could you call up?" I asked, hopefully? "No" was the clear answer.

I decided to try his Senate office. The security was tight at the Federal Building on South Dearborn, but they let me in here. I introduced myself to the man at the desk and explained that I'd like to invite Mr. Obama to the exhibition and to give him the cards in person.

The man said he'd check with someone whose desk was behind closed doors. Meanwhile someone else stopped by wanting to drop off a gift for the new president. The Obama staff refused the gift for ethical reasons. I was glad the postcards weren't considered a gift!

A few minutes later the man came back and said that the appropriate person on the transition team would be given my information. I asked who that person was, but was told that for ethical reasons, that could not be revealed.

Lots of ethics at the Obama office it seems. And we're glad for that. I just hope someone there can find a second or two to listen to the people I've been talking to.

It would be quite ethical, I think, don't you?

At Belmont University in Nashville just days before the presidential debate, students and others were eager to share their thoughts with the next president.

May 20, Bryant Park: "I Would like to urge your administration to speed up the process of immigration," said Nick Ni of New York City. I have applied for immigration since 2002 and was told I would only have to wait for five years to get the Green Cards. But it has been postponed year after year."

May 20, Bryant Park: "How come in a nation like Austria of 8 million they spend as much money on the arts as we do on the NEA?" said Matt Baker of New York City. "A correlation between arts and education shouldn't be ignored - especially when about half of our kids don't even graduate from high school."

May 20, Bryant Park: "I'd like to express my wish as a lifelong music teacher and performer," said Alex Candelaria of New York City. ... "I think we need a concerted effort for funding whether it be music lessons, live concerts and other unique methods..."

May 20, Bryant Park: "By the way, Taiwan is not part of China," said Elaine of New York City.

Bryant Park, May 19: "Today's colleges and schools of higher education are playing the roles of pimps - pimps pushing education," said Sam Riddick of Philadelphia. "And they also come in the form of loan shark bookies and instead of breaking my ankles and arms, they're breaking my back trying to pay college back. ... So Mr. President, please fix the education situation."

Bryant Park, May 19: "As a 53-year-old Latin woman, my desire is to see a president fulfill many of teh wishes that women in this country have held dear to their hearts," said Maria Elena Alvarez of New York City. "I believe that these wishes are the same that our mothers held dear to their heart."

Bryant Park, May 19: "We must end corporate domination of America!" said Hans Tester of New York City. "It is killing us!!"

Bryant Park, May 19: "I woudl like to see there be more housing for poor people," said Alexis Chavis of New York City. "Last but not least: help people pay back student loans.."

Coconino Community College, Flagstaff, Ariz., April 30. "Somewhere in your lineage there's an immigrant - please remember that when you have to sign immigration legislation," said Barbara Eickmeyer.

Coconino Community College, Flagstaff, Ariz., April 30. "I greatly support our efforts in the Middle East and would ask for you to support our military," said Vivian Sanchez.

April 28, Pitzer College: Lynette Bulule wants the next president to be more "laid back" about issues related to race, and "install a very good sense of humor."

Venice Beach, April 26. "Why is the state allowing the police to write homeless people tickets for sleeping on the streets when the only place for them to sleep IS on the streets?" said Patrick, from Houston.

Venice Beach, April 26. "I hope for the next 4 or 8 years of your presidency that you realize we are all one color, one breath, one heartbeat," said Shawn E. of Salt Lake City.

Venice Beach, April 26. "I think the focus of the next administration should be on the middle-class people of America, and the economy," said Richard Hansen of Marina del Rey.

Monterey Institute of International Studies, April 23. "I'm sure you realize that this is a great privilege to be able to serve the American people," said Surjit Basra. "One of the inherently complicated issues I'm sure you're thinking about right now is the Iraq and Afghanistan war, which strongly correlates to the American foreign policy. This could be better emphasized and improved through a dialog with the local populations in these countries."

Monterey Institute of International Studies, April 23. "Remember that some of us have devoted every day of our lives to Iraq and Afghanistan and that we are tired," said Natalie Cole. "My husband and I have both served our country and we feel as if we have done all we can."

Monterey Institute of International Studies, April 23. "It's been almost 6 years since I retired. No as I am going on 71, I found that I have to go back to the workforce because my moderate income and modest savings are being depleted in a hurry. ... I'm open to all suggestions that you have."

Monterey Institute of International Studies, April 23. "I'm Abdul Hai from Afghanistan and my message to the next President is to handle the war in Afghanistan in a better way and not leave Afghanistan until we have peace there."

Monterey Institute of International Studies, April 23. "Please observe the Constitution," said Owen Segerstrom. "Please behave as if this is a democratically run country, regardless of your political stripes, be they stereotypically liberal or stereotypically conservative."

St. Mary's College, April 22. "Please be our true advocate and promote cross-cultural dialogue as a social norm," said Kaleb Lawson.

St. Mary's College, April 22: "Help the disemplowered in this country before you "help" those other countries," said Tiffany Mathis.

St. Mary's College, April 22. Bill Sullivan said, "I think it would be really nice if we'd stop spending money on things that destroy people like bombs and guns and start spending it on feeding people, clothing people, educating people - people at home."

St. Mary's College, April 22. "As the next leader of our country, please listen to the youth of America," said Felisa Arguello.

St. Mary's College, April 22. Chelsea Ulloa said: "Please don't let my boyfriend get deployed. Also, please don't allow a draft. I'm deeply afraid for my 10-year-old and 13-year-old brothers."

St. Mary's College, April 22. "I hope that you will consider that marriage is something not to be held for a certain class of citizens and that all are granted the freedom to marry regardless of who they are," said Scott Devlin.

San Francisco, April 19. "I hope that during the course of your first administration that I can regain some sense of joy rather than fear from saying that I am a citizen of the United States," said this San Francisco woman.

San Francisco, April 19. David Bacci said: "Dear Mrs. Clinton, I am 54 years old. I have never voted in any election of any type in my entire life because I never believed in the government and the way it was run. Now that you are running for president, I have a reason to vote."

Oakland, Calif., April 18. Ashin Kovida, one of the organizers of the September protest marches in Myanmar, said: "I don't like war. Many people are being killed and I don't like that. ...I was born in Burma. I didn't like the dictatorship in my country. I'm a Buddhist monk and participated in peaceful demonstrations. I was hiding in Thailand and then applied to come here. I would like all countries to live peacefully."