Heavyweight – Episode #56: "44 Photos" Summary
Release Date: November 9, 2023 | Host: Pushkin Industries
Introduction to the Mystery
In episode #56 of Heavyweight, titled "44 Photos," host Stevie Lane delves into a perplexing mystery that intertwines fate, loss, and the enigmatic world of postal services. The story begins with Jordan Kistner sending a package to her friend Amy, which was intended to contain Jordan's newly published book about "thin places"—locations where the veil between the physical and spiritual realms is thin.
Notable Quote:
Stevie Lane [04:00]: “There's a lot that I don't know about it. But Amy and Jordan want my help figuring out how Amy ended up with the photographs and how to return to sender.”
The Unexpected Package
On April 7, 2021, Amy visits her local USPS to send Jordan a brown padded envelope containing the book. However, instead of receiving Jordan's book, Amy finds a bundle of 44 photographs depicting strangers—each image more enigmatic than the last.
Notable Quotes:
Stevie Lane [04:51]: “Amy didn't recognize anyone in the photos… 44 photos of complete and total strangers.”
Amy [05:36]: “And I was completely confused.”
Stevie's Investigation Begins
Curious about the mismatch, Stevie Lane takes on the task of uncovering how the photos ended up in Amy's hands. Her initial hypothesis suggests that Jordan's package might have been mishandled or accidentally swapped during a Media Mail inspection—though Postal Inspector Dan Michalko clarifies that such inspections require a search warrant and are unlikely the cause.
Notable Quotes:
Dan Michalko [09:49]: “We don't do anything like that. The only time we'd ever inspect mail is if we had a search warrant.”
Stevie Lane [10:32]: “They're kind of sleuths in their own way.”
The Mail Recovery Center (MRC)
Stevie explores the USPS Mail Recovery Center in Atlanta, Georgia, known for handling undeliverable and mysterious mail. Despite her efforts, Lionel Snow, the MRC manager, offers little assistance, leaving Stevie at a dead end. This forces her to turn her attention back to the photographs themselves in hopes of identifying their origins.
Notable Quotes:
Stevie Lane [13:03]: “We have 160 million addresses in the US could have come from any one of them.”
Levity from Inspector Michalko [10:55]: “They have to try to put pieces together.”
Connecting the Dots: Dallin Cox's Photo
Amidst the 44 photos, one particularly old and creased Polaroid stands out. It depicts a man crouching with a baby and a dog, with the inscription on the back: "Dallin, Kelly, and Queenie at grandparents Coxes Kelly, nine and a half months." Intrigued by this, Stevie traces the photo to Dallin Cox in California.
Notable Quotes:
Stevie Lane [16:52]: “I'd called a few days before and left a message.”
Dallin Sr. [17:10]: “That's crazy. That would be my dad.”
Unveiling Family Tragedy
Dallin Sr. reveals that the photograph pertains to his late daughter Kelly, who passed away unexpectedly on March 30, 2021, just a week before the package was sent. Kelly's granddaughter, Devin, confirms that she received a similar package from her grandmother, Betty, but without the mysterious photo of Kelly and Dallin. This discrepancy deepens the mystery, suggesting a deliberate yet inexplicable act by Kelly.
Notable Quotes:
Stevie Lane [19:09]: “Kelly died unexpectedly of heart failure at the age of 53. It was a shock to her family.”
Jordan Kistner [24:02]: “She believed that there's something beyond death. And I've never believed in ghosts… if there is something there, my mom would definitely do something like this.”
A Message from Beyond?
Jordan Kistner connects the appearance of the photo to her mother's beliefs about thin places and the possibility of messages from beyond. She interprets the photo's late arrival as a possible sign from Kelly, striving to communicate her continued presence and support for her family.
Notable Quotes:
Jordan Kistner [25:34]: “I feel like it's like a treasure from my mom. That's how I feel.”
Stevie Lane [24:24]: “You think that this is almost like a missive from your mom.”
Closure and Reflection
Despite extensive efforts, the origins of the remaining 43 photographs remain a mystery. However, the one connected to Kelly serves as a poignant symbol of enduring love and the mysterious ways in which connections persist beyond death. Devin plans to honor Kelly's memory by including the photograph in her grandfather's upcoming birthday photo album, ensuring that the image—and the love it represents—remains preserved.
Notable Quotes:
Stevie Lane [26:05]: “If Kelly wanted Devin to have the photo, why deliver it a year late? Why now?”
Jordan Kistner [25:56]: “Having this feeling that she's still here and she's still with me is amazing, right?”
Conclusion
"44 Photos" is a heart-wrenching exploration of loss, memory, and the inexplicable coincidences that sometimes bridge the gap between the living and those we've lost. Through Stevie Lane's empathetic investigation, listeners are invited to ponder the mysteries of fate and the enduring bonds of family.
Notable Quote:
Stevie Lane [24:43]: “I still don't know where the photo of Kelly came from. No one in Kelly's family can account for it.”
Production Credits: This episode was produced by Stevie Lane, Jonathan Goldstein, Phoebe Flanagan, and Mohini Madgaon, with senior production by Khalilah Holt. Special thanks to Alex Blumberg, Mimi O'Donnell, Lauren Silverman, Maureen Taylor, Estelle Ivory, and the USPS team. Original music by Christine Fellowes, John K. Sampson, Blue Dot Sessions, Sean Jacoby, and Bobby Lourd. Theme song by The Weakerthans, courtesy of Epitaph Records.
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