As a child, we moved not only from house to house, but several times between provinces. One of these transitions was at the age of fifteen. New province. New neighborhood. New school. New church. That was hard.
I was leaving friends I had known for about seven years. We had all attended the same small Christian school, so our class didn't change much as we advanced grades. We were a close bunch. Thirteen of my classmates agreed to become penpals with me. I took this letter writing very seriously, since it was my lifeline during a difficult time. A few of my friends ended up writing for several years. One in particular is one of my best and dearest friends to this day, and we still communicate, but mostly through texting or phone calls (she lives in another province).
Some days I really miss handwritten letters. They are tangible and feel more personal, I guess partly because they are often written in someone's own handwriting (vs typed) . A letter or card feels more like a gift. Often the writer's personality is reflected through the stationary used. Sometimes a small gift is tucked inside. I still have a box of letters saved from my younger days. It is one of my prized possessions.
I'm not naive enough to think that letter writing will make a comeback. Emails, texts, and messages are much too convenient, which makes them more likely to occur. I do love that!
Do you regularly send letters or cards through the mail? If you could choose between a friend's multi page handwritten letter once every two months or random emails, which would you choose?
I'd go with the multi page handwritten letter over random emails unless the emails were long and came often. That was neat how you were pen pals like that. Its a lost form I think with letter writing. As you might remember, I was a Chemo angel to someone going through chemotherapy and the organization preferred handwritten/typed letters/cards to emails. More personable they thought. Also I have heard with the military the soldiers like to hear their names called out at mail call so handwritten cards/letters work great for them too.
ReplyDeletebetty
Honestly, it’s a tough call. I appreciate the connection though texts and instant messages I can have “on the go” but also the gift of email (of which, I owe you one!) and multi-page newsy handwritten letters. It’s been years since I received a handwritten letter though. My dad was a prolific letter writer and sent letters to friends and family constantly. They were gifts that arrived in the mailbox and I sure miss receiving them.
ReplyDeleteI'd go with the handwritten letters.
ReplyDeleteI think I would too!
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