This week I received a four page handwritten letter from a longtime friend (Thanks MKR). She shared the traveling adventures she and her husband enjoyed last summer. As always, it was full of great descriptions and humorous insights to their road trip. It was a welcome break from the endless stream of junk mail and bills. I've received a few handwritten letters over the past year and each one is a delight to receive.
Who takes time to write a letter anymore? We dash off an email, a text from our phone, and call that good enough. A letter takes time, effort and a stamped envelope. Our handwriting has to be legible. Then comes a trip to the post office. No wonder we are reluctant to actually pen a missive.
There's nothing like some fine paper and a good pen to write down a cheery, newsy note to a friend or relative. It's probably a lost art, but one we should consider reviving. When I was in high school, I had a pen pal in Japan and we corresponded regularly for two or three years. She was practicing her English (which was outstanding) and I was learning about the culture in Japan. Those air mail envelopes filled with neatly written letters on rice paper are packed away in the attic as keepsakes. My best friend growing up spent three years in Ethiopia and we wrote each other frequently. I could hardly wait to get a letter from Deb, telling me about her exotic adventures in that mysterious land. And then there is the single letter that I received from my husband while we were dating. That is safely tucked away--there may be a ribbon around that too.
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We've lost a bit of romance in not writing letters. We've also lost our penmanship. Remember all those circles we had to make when we were learning cursive? That has also gone out of fashion. Have you looked any young person's handwriting recently? My father-in-law had fine handwriting. For years, he hand wrote every paycheck for Wyoming County employees. His loops and curves were consistently beautiful, all very readable. I know because he wrote mine for awhile. Yes, those were the days.
So, if you're looking for a way to surprise someone, write them a letter. It doesn't have to be four pages to start, but you might be surprised how the time flies after you get going. Get some nice paper and a pen that sits comfortably in your grip. You might enjoy it and be surprised yourself.
Who takes time to write a letter anymore? We dash off an email, a text from our phone, and call that good enough. A letter takes time, effort and a stamped envelope. Our handwriting has to be legible. Then comes a trip to the post office. No wonder we are reluctant to actually pen a missive.
There's nothing like some fine paper and a good pen to write down a cheery, newsy note to a friend or relative. It's probably a lost art, but one we should consider reviving. When I was in high school, I had a pen pal in Japan and we corresponded regularly for two or three years. She was practicing her English (which was outstanding) and I was learning about the culture in Japan. Those air mail envelopes filled with neatly written letters on rice paper are packed away in the attic as keepsakes. My best friend growing up spent three years in Ethiopia and we wrote each other frequently. I could hardly wait to get a letter from Deb, telling me about her exotic adventures in that mysterious land. And then there is the single letter that I received from my husband while we were dating. That is safely tucked away--there may be a ribbon around that too.
We've lost a bit of romance in not writing letters. We've also lost our penmanship. Remember all those circles we had to make when we were learning cursive? That has also gone out of fashion. Have you looked any young person's handwriting recently? My father-in-law had fine handwriting. For years, he hand wrote every paycheck for Wyoming County employees. His loops and curves were consistently beautiful, all very readable. I know because he wrote mine for awhile. Yes, those were the days.
So, if you're looking for a way to surprise someone, write them a letter. It doesn't have to be four pages to start, but you might be surprised how the time flies after you get going. Get some nice paper and a pen that sits comfortably in your grip. You might enjoy it and be surprised yourself.
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