+1  A: 

How about this?

addr_template = addr_template.gsub(/ReplaceThisWithPostalcardMessage/,
  @contact_postalcard.message.gsub("\n", "<br />"))
ngoozeff
Okay, sounds like this is the winner! Let me try it and go!
Angela
A: 

Use the textarea as normal then display using :

simple_format(data_from_textarea)
David Lyod
Hi, yes, that helps when displaying into rails view...this is injecting into a static .html file? It is getting gsubed into a string being io.read into a string....would this work? if so, how? thanks!
Angela
addr_template = simple_format(addr_template.gsub(/ReplaceThisWithPostalcardMessage/, @contact_postalcard.message))
David Lyod