long.live.letters

“What a lot we lost when we stopped writing letters. You can't reread a phone call” ~~Liz Carpenter

Receiving a letter on a birthday, Christmas or special occasion is one of those small things that bring so much joy to my life. As I carefully read over the letter or card I know that the writer took the time to find the perfect words to describe their feelings. It means the world to me when someone can verbalize a meaningful thought, write it down and give me the chance to have that memory for always.

I am currently writing letters to three of my close friends and each letter writing and receiving experience has been different. One composes her letter quickly after she gets mine, another cannot find time to respond, and the other one, well, he's in the process of perfecting a poem for me ;)

I often ponder what it would have been to live in an era where letter writing was one of the only forms of communication. Letters would take months to get to the recipient, all the while waiting with anxious patience. I hope that handwriting and sending letters continues to live. Though the cost of postage is going up and the thought of a quick, duty-free email sounds more efficient, is there really any art, heart or creativity in that?

"Let's keep this writing thing going!"--Andrea D.